After what seemed like hours of waiting anxiously

On Sunday the 5th of August the BMW Race Driver Series held their annual E30 Scholarship Competition at Pukekohe Park Raceway. Turning up at the Park the sky was dark and drizzly with rain, however this didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits – especially mine, as I don’t mind a wet track. I had finished 3rd in the previous year’s competition and was keen to improve this year.

After starting under rainy skies it was decided to be too wet for the scholarship contenders to have a fair assessment, but we continued on with interviews, understanding race control, and learning about the work behind the scenes that the volunteers do. It wasn’t long before the sun popped out and we had a short window to have all 20 competitors assessed on their driver competency and ability. On the way into the pits I got the thumbs up from BMW driver Matt Griffin, so I knew I had done well and the best I could.

After what seemed like hours of waiting anxiously, we were finally rallied in and the presentations started. There were minor awards for the day given and a huge thanks to all volunteers and staff behind the scenes that make the scholarship possible, even after 5 years of running. Finally my name was called out for the top 3. I stood alongside fellow SsangYong racers Joel Herbert and Kieron Rollinson. My heart was beating out of my chest as one by one they announced 3rd place for Kieron, 2nd for Joel, and finally I was announced the 2018/19 BMW E30 Scholarship Winner!

A year of preparation and hard work had paid off! I’m more than proud to represent the BMW brand, the sponsors of the series and scholarship, and the BMW Race Driver Series. I’m looking forward to a season of challenges, learning, friendship, and hopefully a few podiums along the way.

📸 Matt Smith

I’m proud to be representing the series

After officially being handed the keys to the scholarship car on Friday, I took away my first win in the BMW E30 in the first race of the year, representing BMW and its many passionate sponsors. After early dramas when the transponder didn’t register in qualifying, the officials were able to hand-time me and I was awarded P4 for the first race.

I raced wheel to wheel with Ant Belsham for most of the race – we travelled a whole lap virtually side by side without a touch! It was fantastic sportsmanship and I’m proud to be representing the series.

Starting off pole for race 2 on Sunday I was eager to race as well as I had the day before. I finished 2nd, however I was still able to set the fastest lap of the race which would help place me on pole again for the final race.

With a much better start and intense battle for the first few laps, I soon found myself in the lead before a mid-race safety car brought the field back together. I held off some challenges and won the third race for the weekend and overall round.

A huge thanks must go to the BMW Race Driver Series committee for putting their faith in me to represent them as the scholarship driver, P&S Automotive for preparing the car, and all of the other sponsors, supporters, and volunteers that make the race weekends possible.

PB ????

📸 Matt Smith

I had been itching to get back behind the wheel

I had been itching to get back behind the wheel of the BMW E30 scholarship car, as we headed into round 2 this weekend in Taupo. To most the weather wasn’t looking great, but I was excited! I like the rain.

It was a tough start to the weekend as my transponder didn’t register in qualifying, this placed me from 20th position for race 1. Determined to get back to the front I put my head down and found my way up to 12th place before running out of laps to move forward anymore.

Starting 12th in race 2 and rain falling heavy, again I moved forward carving through the field setting the fastest lap time of the race. I made my way to 4th and closing in on the podium when I pushed a little too hard in the wet conditions made a small mistake which put me back to 5th and that’s where I finished.

The final race was from our overall points which meant I started 8th. The closer you get to the front the harder they are to pass! I got a ripper start and went right round the outside of everyone on turn 1, by turn 3 I was in 4th! I pushed on and pressured the cars in front, running out of laps I finished 3rd in the final race.

It was a fantastic weekend and although a small technical issue made it really tough for me, I was still able to salvage my 4th podium from 6 races so far this season and am still in the hunt for the championship.

As always I would not be able to race if it were not for the officials and volunteers who braved the rain all weekend and also to Peter and Graham from P&S automotive and all the other people behind the scenes that make the series and scholarship possible.

📸 Matt Smith

Successful weekend!

We had a really successful weekend in the BMW scholarship E30 car. Qualifying pole, winning the first 2 races and finishing 4th in the final.

Unfortunately we had some small issues with the engine cutting out, which really hurt us in the last race, but we showed pace and consistency and I drove my hardest. We head to Pukekohe later this month where we’ll try again for a clean sweep!

Thank you to the BMW Race Driver Series, P and S Automotive and everyone who has helped out, big or small along the way.

📸 Matt Smith

I was looking forward to some wet racing

The 4th round of the BMW Racing Driver Series was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway over the weekend of the 23–24 of February. I headed into the weekend at the top of the championship and was looking forward to some wet racing.

Practice went well, we sat in the top 3 on the wet and semi-drying track. During qualifying on Saturday morning we couldn’t quite keep the pace of the front runners but still managed a respectable 3rd row start in 5th place.

As we rolled out for our first race rain started to fall so we made the call to run our wet set up, unfortunately by the time our race started it was completely dry and it really killed our speed. It was a tough race as I went forward and back to finish 9th.

Race 2 was Sunday morning, we had made some changes overnight and were confident to come through. I carved up the field early on and soon found myself in second battling for first! I made a small but costly mistake at the hairpin and went wide onto the grass and finished in 14th place. We showed extreme speed and beat a 7-year-old lap record!

Eager to redeem myself, I put my head down, drove the wheels off my BMW and battled through from tenth to first place. I won the race by over a second and finally got the result we knew we had in us. After a really tough weekend we were glad to take a win and smash a record on the way!

The predicted storms for the weekend didn’t live up to its expectations but it meant we had dry, close racing all weekend. Thanks to The BMW Race Driver Series, P&S Automotive and everyone else behind the scenes that make it all possible. We now head into the business end of the season with only 2 more rounds to go and a small lead in the championship on our side.

PB

📸 Matt Smith

The perfect weekend.

Saturday morning we arrived at Hampton Downs for the 5th round of the BMW Race Driver Series and were greeted with thick fog which would mean a slight delay to the day getting underway.

With the fog cleared up we rolled out for qualifying where I was able to snatch pole position in the final moments, this would set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

Race 1 I was outdone off the start and dropped into 2nd for most of the opening lap before setting up a move out of the final turn to retake the lead and set the fastest lap of the race on my way to the chequered flag.

Race 2 started with a 3-way tussle for the lead into turn one and I managed to come out in front and build a margin to the chasing pack, once again setting the fastest lap of the race.

Race 3 we would be racing for the Michael Schumacher Trophy, this was the race I really wanted to win. I got a great start and was able to consistently grow the margin each lap over the rest of the field. Topping off the perfect weekend with another fastest lap of the race.

A huge thanks has to go to P&S Automotive who gave me a faultless car to drive, as well as everyone behind the scenes that make the BMW Race Driver Series and the E30 Scholarship happen.

PB.

We are the Champions, my friend...

I’m proud to announce I am the winner of the 2018/2019 BMW E30 Race Driver Series, winning 11 out of 18 races and collecting 2 lap records along the way. Thank you to all those who helped me along this journey.

It was the final round of the BMW Race Driver Series E30 Championship over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of May at Hampton Downs in Auckland. Unfortunately I missed practice on Friday due to work commitments, however I was confident we had great pace after clean sweeping the last round, with a pole and 3 race wins. Again we took away all the silverware with another 3 wins and a lap record which handed us both the Rookie Championship and E30 Championship.

Saturday morning saw us twiddling our thumbs as we waited for the heavy fog to lift, once it finally did we rolled out for qualifying where I missed out on pole by .07 of a second. Pumped to be off the front row I made a good start and slotted in 2nd through the first few turns. I was then able to make the most of a safety car re-start and take the lead. The last half of the race was a 3-way battle for the lead where eventually I took another race win after multiple position changes.

The fog was even worse on Sunday with a 2-hour delay to the meeting’s start, but eventually the sun came out and the track was clean and fast. I won the race again, breaking another one of Richard Oxton’s long-standing lap records!

It was the final race of the day and series. I got another clean start, made my way to the front and kept pushing all the way to the line.

I cannot explain the feeling of excitement, accomplishment and relief that came over me as I drove back into the pits. The Scholarship has been a fantastic experience and one I would recommend to anyone getting into or even already in motorsport.

I can’t thank the BMW committee, P&S Automotive, Kayne Barrie Motorsport, Toyo Tires, Stocks, Classic Cover Insurance and everyone behind the scenes for giving me this opportunity to showcase what the scholarship car is really capable of. We broke the “never winning a race” drought for the car 11 times and won the last 7 races in a row.

I’m looking forward to joining the E30 Scholarship committee next year and helping this category go from strength to strength.

There are some high-profile driving opportunities available for next season, which comes with some great marketing opportunities for anyone interested.

Cheers, Pete

📸 Matt Smith