Southern Highlands driver Lachlan Mineeff is hoping some intensive simulator training will pay dividends when he returns to the racetrack for Round 2 of the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Queensland Raceway this weekend.
It will be Mineeff’s first time racing at the venue, but he says the virtual-reality sessions should make it easier to learn the real life race track.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time on the simulator, testing out different racing lines and trying to learn braking and turn-in points,” Mineeff said.
“While it’s no substitute for driving around the track in real life, the latest simulator technology is quite advanced, and it means you start from a much higher base when you go to a circuit for the first time.
“Queensland Raceway looks quite simple on the map, but when you drive it on the simulator, it’s actually quite technical – the first two corners are very fast, and there are some big braking zones at Turns 3, 4 and 6.”
The 15-year-old finished 10th on his national Formula Ford debut at Winton, and is aiming for another top 10 result this weekend.
“Considering a lot of other drivers have raced at Queensland previously, my goal is to come away with more top 10 race finishes and accumulate some solid points,” he said.
“Since the first round, we’ve done a test day at Wakefield Park and concentrated on some areas where I can improve.
“One of the biggest points is consistency – in the state series, you can afford to make mistakes and have a slow lap every now and then, but in the national series the competition is a lot tougher, and every lap has to be perfect.”
With regular driver coach Cameron Hill racing in Carrera Cup at Phillip Island this weekend, Mineeff has recruited last year’s NSW Formula Ford Champion Lachlan Gibbons to assist with data analysis.
The team is also continuing to seek commercial partners to join Mineeff on his journey towards becoming a professional racing driver, and interested parties are advised to make contact via Lachlan’s Facebook page.
The weekend will consist of qualifying and four races.
Australian Formula Ford Round 2
Schedule
Saturday, 21 April
10:45 – Qualifying (15 min)
13:00 – Race 1 (10 laps)
15:00 – Race 2 (10 laps)
Sunday, 22 April
10:30 – Race 3 (10 laps)
13:00 – Race 4 (10 laps)
Lachlan Mineeff is proudly sponsored by:
Southern Star Truck Centre
UsedTrucks.Sydney
Acceleration Helmet Parts
Race Stars Simulators+ Slot Cars Bowral
Zego Building Systems
Midcoast Trucks
Lous Smash Repairs
Pitman Truck Sales
Global Equipment Finance
Bowdens Own
Thermo King Rail
National Truck Wholesalers
