CHE Racing Team launches three-car National Formula Ford Series attack

Multiple Australian Formula Ford Series winners CHE Racing Team has re-committed to the development category by entering three young drivers for season 2024.

Competing in the Victorian State Formula Ford Championship opener at Sandown on February 16-18 as a warm up to the first round of national competition at Bathurst next month, the CHE Racing Team will feature a similar driver line-up to 2023.

Young guns Imogen Radburn and Lachlan Strickland continue with the squad after undertaking their maiden national-level seasons in 2024, while Daniel Frougas joins the team after enjoying a technical alliance with the CHE Racing Team last year.

Strickland just missed the podium on debut as he displayed frontrunning pace, though luck was against him during the latter portion of the season.

There were impressive moments for Radburn particularly on her last trip to Sandown where an incident in Race 1 led to a spirited charge in the second encounter finishing just shy of the top 10.

Frougas finished 10th in last year’s final standings as he ended the year a consistent finisher inside the top group.

The CHE Racing Team used the corresponding Sandown event last year as a warm up for its drivers where Strickland took his first win in circuit racing to finish second for the round.

Mount Panorama will be the venue for Round 1 of the 2024 Australian Formula Ford Series on March 29-31.

QUOTES

Imogen Radburn
CHE Racing Team

“We’re back with CHE again and I’m hoping to be in the top five of the series at the end of the year,” Radburn said.

“Last year was our big learning year so hopefully we can just push forward and see where we end up. We’re hoping the consistency going into this year will work and we can keep improving the whole time.

“It’s a matter of getting used to the car again having spent four months out of the seat, so this meeting is perfect for me to get back on-track and honing all the skills I’ve developed during the off-season.

“We want to be getting personal bests at each circuit we go to and improve the skills not only for this year, but in the long-term.

“Everything is the same in terms of team and car, so we’re targeting a strong season. Staying at CHE I know what is expected of me and the car will feel the same as the team set-up well, so we’re not going in blind.”

Lachlan Strickland
CHE Racing Team

“Last time we were quick at Sandown and we ended the season quite fast,” described Strickland.

“I think this meeting sets us up quite well for the season before the national season starts later next month.

“I’m pretty sure everyone in the team knows it is one of my favourite tracks, so I can’t complain. It mixes stop and start corners, with a quick section at the back being one of my favourite pieces of track in Australia.

“We had a successful test at Winton last week and the team was very happy. We did lots and lots of laps, I got in a really good window, so I’m pretty confident heading into this weekend following the test.

“Continuity is great, but no matter how long you’ve been racing there is always something to be learnt at the race track, so I think my learning curve will still continue. It won’t be as steep as last year.

“There is something nice about returning to a series that you’ve already done a year of where it’s more focusing on the small details to get the most out of the car, myself and the people around me. I want to come away with a few wins and maybe the series trophy.”

Daniel Frougas
CHE Racing Team

“It was great to gather a lot of experience working and making connections with the team,” said Frougas.

“I learnt a lot more than I would've done on my own, so it’s great to move in full-time with the team.

“A lot of learnings came out of the Formula Ford dynamics and the set-up changes, which will continue at Sandown as I learn the new car I have for this year.

“Running at Sandown is pretty limited, so any time we can race there is always valuable. It’s very stop-start compared to other tracks, though mixed in with some fast sections.

“I’ve been hanging out with the team for the past month and I can’t wait to start the season.

“The ultimate goal is to win the series, but we’ll give it our best shot and see where we end up.”

Cameron Hill
Team owner, CHE Racing Team

“I’m really keen to have a strong three driver line-up to take on Australian Formula Ford,” Hill said.

“Lachlan and Imogen are both returning, who both made good improvement during last season. Both will be aiming to use what they learnt last year to good effect.

“We helped Daniel out last year with technical support as it was just himself and his dad running the car, so it’s going to be cool to see him racing as part of our team. I’ve got high hopes for him as well.

“It’ll be great to see how they all go and I’m really looking forward to seeing them on-track.

“I love Formula Ford. It’s where I and so many of Australia’s leading drivers started. I still stand by, Formula Ford teaches you the fundamentals of how to drive and set-up a race car better than any other category.

“We’ve had a lot of success in the category with series success for Tom Sargent and myself alongside race wins for various other drivers to have driven for us. We still really enjoy car racing and coming out on top, so I’m excited to see if we can get another series win.”