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Pro-Am Dominates in Navarra - Title Fight is on

Scott Thompson

7 Oct 2024

The team achieves a remarkable double grand slam at Circuito de Navarra setting the stage for an intense championship showdown, now just 2.5 points behind the leaders.

PRO-AM Racing took on its first ever European round of the MSV Trackday Championship and Trackday Trophy at the newly revamped Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain. This race marked the championships return to European soil for the first time since 2019, adding an extra layer of excitement as the team sought to strengthen its position in the championship standings.


The Journey to Navarra

The team began their journey in the early hours of Thursday, departing the UK at 4:00 AM for a 1,000-mile trek across France and into Spain. After a four-hour ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, the team drove through the French countryside, passing Le Mans on the way, and tackling a long journey of toll roads and fuel stops. They arrived in Spain around 6:00 AM on Friday morning, ready to face the challenging weekend ahead.


Testing and Familiarisation on Friday

Friday was dedicated to getting accustomed to the revamped Circuito de Navarra layout. The circuit had undergone a multi-million-dollar redevelopment, featuring new turns 11 to 14 that added a technical challenge with elevation changes. The team, consisting of drivers Scott Thompson and Chris Dunster for the championship and newcomer Richard Jepp for the Trophy race, took advantage of the open pitlane test session to dial in the car and acclimate to the track.


Initially, lap times were in the 2:17 range as each driver familiarized themselves with the car and circuit. However the wealth of data gathered through onboard sensors—including throttle position, brake pressure, and steering angles—allowed the drivers to compare driving styles and refine their lap times. With each session the drivers chipped away at their times eventually bringing the laps down to a competitive 2:13 by the end of the day. The practice sessions gave the drivers confidence and by the time the new Toyo and Dunlop tyres were bedded in PRO-AM Racing felt ready for Saturday's races.


To cap off a productive day the team took part in a circuit organised local vineyard tour in the Navarra region, famous for its Rioja wines. This was followed by a multi-course tasting dinner giving the team a taste of local culture before focusing on the task ahead.


Championship Qualifying – A Near-Perfect Lap

Saturday kicked off with qualifying for the Trackday Championship. Scott Thompson was first out on the track completing the mandatory three laps and quickly securing P1 with a solid time. However a tricky chicane made wet by a garden hose provided an unexpected challenge leading to a slight mistake that cost Scott a few tenths. When Chris Dunster took over he knew there was more time to be gained. Armed with feedback from Scott Chris put in a blistering lap shaving off seven-tenths to clock a 1:12.078—securing pole position by a margin of 1.1 seconds. The lap was so quick it even outpaced a car from the class above, giving PRO-AM Racing a buffer going into the race.


Trophy Qualifying – Richard’s Strong Debut

Next up was Richard Jepp making his debut in the team’s Renault Clio 182 for the Trackday Trophy. Having already shown his prowess in EnduroKA racing with PRO-AM Racing Richard was now stepping up from the slower KA and Peugeot City Cup cars to the much faster Clio, with nearly three times the horsepower. After switching from Toyo tyres used during practice to Dunlops for qualifying Richard quickly adapted. His first lap placed him in P2 by just 0.3 seconds, but a well-timed cool-down lap set him up for a stronger second run. He put in a 1:10.964, comfortably taking pole position by over half a second—a stellar performance for his first time in the car.


The Championship Race – Leading From the Front

The first race of the day was the Trackday Championship with Scott Thompson taking the start. Scott made a clean getaway immediately pulling away from the cars behind and settling into a smooth race pace. His excellent tyre management allowed him to extend his lead by 0.4 to 1 second per lap and by the time he pitted the team had built up a 7-second gap to second place.


Chris took over for the second half of the race expertly managing the pace while keeping an eye on the competition. With no immediate pressure Chris was able to match P2's lap times and bring the car home safely, preserving the engine and gearbox for the upcoming Trophy race. PRO-AM Racing took the win by 10.6 seconds securing maximum points for the round. Scott's fastest lap of the race added another valuable point bringing the team one step closer to the championship lead.


The Trophy Race – A Debut Win for Richard

Richard Jepp then took to the track for his first race in the Clio 182 hoping to replicate the team's earlier success. He got off to a fantastic start passing a car from the class above to sit in P2 overall while leading his class. Richard extended his lead by 2 seconds per lap and by lap four he had built a comfortable 6-second gap. However, a safety car brought that advantage back to zero.


Undeterred Richard made an excellent restart and quickly re-established his lead. The team timed their pit stop to perfection but a slight error in starting the pit timer added a bit of drama. Despite losing a few extra seconds in the pits, Richard rejoined the race just behind his main rival Nathan McPhail. With superior pace Richard quickly passed McPhail and pulled away to take the win by 16 seconds. Subsequent penalties handed to other teams saw Richard promoted to P2 overall—an incredible debut for him in the Clio 182.


Championship Standings Tighten Ahead of Final Round

The double victory was a monumental achievement for PRO-AM Racing, securing pole positions, fastest laps, and race wins in both events. With these results, the team now sits just 2.5 points behind MCS Racing in the Trackday Championship standings. The points are as follows:


  • MCS Racing: 67 points

  • PRO-AM Racing: 64.5 points

  • Aindale Racing: 63 points

  • Donovan Racing: 38.5 points


With the final round of the championship scheduled for October 26th at Brands Hatch, the battle for the title is tighter than ever. PRO-AM Racing will head into the final race confident and determined knowing that a strong performance could secure the championship title.


Looking Ahead

Team Principal Scott Thompson reflects on the event, and looks ahead.


“Achieving a double grand slam at Circuito de Navarra was an incredible moment for Pro-Am Racing. Our drivers performed exceptionally, and the team's hard work paid off, achieving maximum points. A big thank you to MSV for hosting this event; they did a fantastic job in bringing a European track to the calendar for the first time since 2019. Now we look ahead to the championship showdown, we’re excited and focused. With only 2.5 points separating us from the top, every second counts. We're determined to give it our all in the final round!”



Stay tuned as PRO-AM Racing fights for the title in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the 2024 MSV Trackday Championship!

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