Richard Jepp - City car Cup Season Review
Motorsport is our passion and we are honoured to work with some of the best in the business, like Student Motorsport Champion Richard Jepp. Here, in his own words is how is winning 2023 season played out.
With the previous year (2022) being my first back in motorsport for over 20 years, the build up to the 2023 season still felt very new and exciting. It also brought a wave of nerves along with it as we (Team Northbrook Racing) were 2022 Student Motorsport Champions and knew we had a target on our back.
The first race weekend was at Snetterton, a track that we visited twice the year before, getting impressive results each time. This made the start to the season a little more comfortable. We started the season very strongly, claiming three class wins and bagging great points overall. Just what we needed to get things going.
Next up was Croft. One of my favourite circuits to race on, although a long way from home! Engine troubles started to show them selves towards the end of qualifying, causing a lack of power once the engine got hot. However, we battled on and came away with another three class wins and a couple of main championship podiums!
The third race weekend was up at Anglesey, the furthest drive for us southerners and a track I had not been to before. Testing on Friday was essential, and we showed great pace by the end of the day. The first two races we again managed to claim two class wins as well as an over all podium, however after contact in the third race putting me down to stone last on lap 2, we could only manage a seventh in class, ending our winning streak but at no fault of our own. Very frustrating.
We headed to a very wet Snetterton next. Not what you expect towards the end of July, but hey, we live in England right?! Set up decision on my part did not pay off over the weekend, trying to find the grip in these wet conditions. We did however still manage to claim three second places in our class including a fastest lap overall. Now halfway through the season, consistency was key to ensure we kept ahead of our competitors, although as a racing driver we always want to win…. everything!
Brand Hatch was next up, the first time the series had ever visited the legendary circuit, but our home track as a team. Our pace was right up there during testing and qualifying, but our straight-line speed issues started to show again during the races. After bagging two second places in the first two races, we were leading over all in the final race, starting to pull a gap and looking in a great position to claim our first ever overall win! But, after a safety car period and the pack back on my tail, I had no defence against the top two guys driving past me on the straight. We held on to third overall and first in class. Strong results yet again.
For the penultimate race weekend, we headed to Donnington, another track I had never driven before, but most certainly one on the bucket list. Jumping straight in to qualifying on a new track is never ideal, but I got up to speed quickly and made the top ten. Keeping it clean in the races proved essential and I worked my way forward in each on the two races, resulting in a third and second in class as well as strong points in the overall championship. This secured the Student Motorsport Challenge title for 2023 with another couple of races still to go, so we could relax a little as a team, but I wanted to press on in the overall drivers’ championship.
We made it to Silverstone and the finale for the season. What a place to finish things off for the year, and to come here already crowned as Student Motorsport Champions yet again was special. We managed to qualify second overall, our highest of the season and very promising for a superb ending to the season. Sticking on to the bumper of the leader, we claimed two second places over all and two class wins. We could not claim that first place overall, but we were more than happy with the results.
For the team and I, the 2023 was a big step forward from the earlier season. Claiming solid results throughout and pushing the top guys at every chance. I am so happy to be able to be part of this team and to bring home the results for them. The students prepare the car amazingly, all alongside their day-to-day college and university work. Bagging third in the driver’s championship is something I am also enormously proud of as this was extremely hard fought and a huge step forward. 2024 is bound to be another tough year, but we will come out fighting and try to go for the triple crown.
Thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and supporters for the season. This would not be achievable without all of you and what you do for us as a team and myself as a driver.
Buy the Rocked-IT kit bag as used by Richard here - Rocked-IT Motorsport Kit Bag — Rocked!t
