An Interview with Ministox final winner at Mildenhall on March 29 317 Lauren Overy
(interview published April 8 2014 in the lead up to rounds six and seven of the Ministox Mildenhall Track Championship on April 18 and 26)

Age: 14
Home Town: Soham
Occupation: Studying for GCSE exams
Family: Mum and dad and two cats
Racing career: Started racing Ministox in July 2012

You won your first final at Mildenhall in the Ministox on March 29, is that something you are particularly proud off?
Yes I am, the trophy is in my room at home and I’m really pleased to have won a final on shale now, especially because I struggled for so long on shale. I had a really bad first meeting at Mildenhall and it took me a long time to get over that and get to grips with it but I think that has just made finally cracking it even more satisfying, it’s really good to now be able to think of myself of someone who can do well on both tarmac and shale because that’s something I’ve really wanted to do and been working hard to get to.

You had your first win at Mildenhall in January, what was more special, the first shale win or your first shale final win?
A lot of people think a final is more important but personally I think a race is a race, unless it’s a championship or something they are all pretty similar so for me it was the first win on shale. Just again, because I’d struggled for so long and to finally win one (on shale) meant a lot because it took so long for it to finally happen.

That maiden shale win came in some of the worst conditions we’ve seen at Mildenhall in quite some time, how were you able to cope with the wet weather?
Well when I was on the grid and it started to rain I was a bit worried at first because wet shale is not exactly my strongest surface but I remembered that my dad (Jack) always said when it rains it washes the surface clean and it actually can get grippier, even on shale and after a couple of laps when I get my head round it I realised I could drive pretty fast and just went for it and he was right, the track was really quick even though the rain was pouring down so his advice definitely paid off that day.

Your final win on March 29 sees you return to red grade at RDC. While you have started races from the red grade at Mildenhall before this has been because you have been graded red elsewhere, this is the first time you have been graded red at RDC, is that something you are pleased about?
Yes, it really is, especially now because I haven’t got to keep changing my roof grade every time I race at Mildenhall (laughs). I think it’s an achievement getting to the red grade but when I’ve started in the reds at Mildenhall before it’s always been because of my results elsewhere and not at Mildenhall so to be red grade at RDC really does mean a lot because now I’m a red grade everywhere and that is something I’ve been trying to get to for a while. Me and my dad set little goals every time I race and getting a red roof at Mildenhall has been one for a while and I’m so pleased to have finally got it. Now I’ve just got to keep it which isn’t going to be easy, especially at Mildenhall because the reds start so far back so I’ve got to try and be consistent and make the most of every race.

The March 29 meeting saw 27 cars in action, the best turnout in the formula at Mildenhall in quite some time, are you pleased to see such healthy fields in the formula and does that make for better racing for you?
It’s great to have these kind of fields, I think it is absolutely brilliant and makes for much better racing. When I first started I was going to meetings with 10 or less cars and that’s not very good at all so to now be racing at meetings with nearly 30 is excellent. It’s not just at Mildenhall, there was nearly 30 at Birmingham as well the other week which is brilliant, it’s great to see so many cars out there all of a sudden. I think it not only makes for better racing but it makes you a better driver and you learn and improve more when you are racing against a lot more cars. You need to think more when there is a bigger grid and that experience can make a huge difference.

A big part of your victory in the March 29 final came when you narrowly avoided the spinning Harry Sargent car which would ultimately result in a race stoppage. Did experience play a part there and how crucial was you avoiding him in you winning the race?
I think it made a massive difference as had I hit him I would have lost a lot of places. I think experience does come into it, just things like watching ahead to see what’s going on and knowing that if you brake suddenly on shale you are probably just going to slide into (the crash), stuff like that, it all makes a difference.

After that stoppage we saw a pretty wild seven lap shootout for the win, talk us through the restart and your last bend move on cousin Harry for the win?
It was a bit crazy. I remember on the restart sitting there thinking ‘what would dad do’ (laughs). I didn’t have the best of starts and I think when Harry and Cole (Atkins) came past it kind of woke me up and made me realise I needed to get my butt in gear. The last lap was really cool. I knew me and Harry had got away so I had a big advantage knowing I didn’t need to worry too much about what was behind. Going into the last lap I had a chance to make a move on the first bend but I’ve made that mistake before, took the lead on the penultimate bend and then lost it on the last bend so I was telling myself to be patient and wait until the last bend but then Harry got away from me on the back straight and I thought I’d blown it but because I knew the next car was a little way back I decided I had to go for it and fortunately for me it worked out in my favour.

What is the relationship with you and cousin (356) Harry and what is it like coming from such a well known racing family?
Me and Harry have a great relationship and we are a lot closer now that we race together. We actually got our first cars within about a month of each other and it’s gone from there. Before we started racing we never really saw that much of each other but now we see each other at the tracks every couple of weeks and we also spend more time together during the (school) holidays. But our racing I think has brought out whole family together which is really great. It’s interesting being in our family, of course there are people who know me because of my last name and there is definitely a pressure which comes from that when I race but my mum is always telling me that it’s my racing and I’m just another driver in a car and she’s right so I try and always remember that.

With all the junior formulas available in our sport right now, what attracted you to Ministox and have you given any thought as to what you might like to race if you continue after Ministox?
For me, Ministox was the only choice when I decided I wanted to try racing out myself. I’ve no interest in non-contact and so Ministox was definitely the best choice. I love the contact part of the sport although it wasn’t too long ago that I got labelled by some as being in Team Glass Bumper but I think I’ve managed to shake it off now! I do want to carry on racing after Ministox, I think it would be a bit of a shame if I didn’t but I’m not sure what I’d like to do. I want to do contact racing because the non-contact stuff I think would drive me crazy but I don’t think I would be right for the more extreme types of contact racing like bangers or Saloon Stockcars so maybe a 1300cc Stockcar.

A big talking point of this season in the Ministox is the reintroduction of the roof grade carrying championships, is that something you are looking forward too?
Yes, I think it’s great to have proper championships back but I do think the smaller, more domestic championships should have been kept, especially for the lower graded drivers or those who can only race locally because now they might not get a chance at a championship and I think that’s a shame. But I’m looking forward to all the championships and I think they will be really good. The ORCi at Mildenhall should be an excellent meeting. I know there are a few not keen because it’s shale but if the shale (RDC) drivers are going to race on tarmac then it should also be the other way round as well so I think the ORCi Championship could be especially good, I reckon it’s going to be very lively.

As you are still at school, are you able to spend much time on your race cars?
I do try but it’s pretty hectic because as well as school I also do swimming once a week, karate twice a week and I’m also a young leader for some groups so I don’t have many nights at home and by the time I’ve done my homework a lot of the night has gone so if it wasn’t for my dad I wouldn’t be doing everything I’m doing but I do try and help. I’m not the most mechanically minded but I can change wheels and clean the car and stuff like that so I do try to help.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My dad especially, if it wasn’t for him none of this would be happening, my mum for coming to the meetings and always being on my side, all my sponsors for all their help over the last 18 years, my grandparents who’ve been great and all the family for putting up with me banging on about racing all the time.