RCIB Racing sponsored, TEAM Hard’s 17 year old driver Callum Jenkins will be participating in the second round of the VAG Trophy Championship in less than a week. He will be one of the younger drivers competing at the race. Among some of the circuits that Callum has driven at, is Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park. He’s also no newbie when it comes to Snetterton, last year he had his best results here and is expecting to receive nothing below those, this time.

You are a very young driver, how do you think this works to your advantage and disadvantage?

It definitely works both ways. The disadvantage is a lack of racing experience in comparison to other drivers in the VAG trophy. However, I have had two years racing in a junior championship prior to graduating into seniors, which means that I have been able to develop a good understanding of most of the circuits I will be racing at this year. Pre-season testing has given me the opportunity to focus on getting used to the differences in handling and speed of my car and some people saying being young is an advantage due to being in the prime of your learning, I feel there’s truth in that as the feedback from the instructors I’ve worked with is that I’m always quick to learn and put skills into practise

What impression did you have of the first round at Rockingham? Were you happy with your results?

Rockingham holds sentimental value to me being the first circuit I ever raced a car at back in 2015, however for my style of driving it isn’t my favourite track. A mistake in qualifying on my flying lap meant my position didn’t reflect the pace I had shown which was disappointing but I knew I could make it through the pack in the races. One of a racers worst fears is to stall on the start line and I couldn’t believe it after spending last year working on my race starts, there I was stuck on the start line with the rest of the pack flying past me, I got my head down though and fought through the pack to finish 8^th, which I was really pleased with. A first corner incident in race 2 coupled with worn tyres meant I came over the line in 12^th and although these results weren’t what we were hoping for, it was a fantastic first weekend with team-HARD and I had some amazing racing.

How have you been preparing for Snetterton? How have the testing days went?

Having had my best results last year at Snetterton, I am looking forward to getting back there to see what I can do with a different car and a completely different field of drivers. Hopefully everything will go well next week at pre-race testing and my focus is to not let myself put extra pressure on myself trying to compete with last year’s results.

Above Jenkin’s ‘Hot Lap’ video from his last year’s round at Snetterton

What are your expectations for the second round?

The main thing I want is to take away better results than Rockingham, I need to focus on a good points haul to push me up in the driver standings, but also I hope to have lots of clean, fun racing in the process and to continue learning!

Catch Callum Jenkins at round 2 of VAG Trophy on the 27th of May.