In case you missed the news on Monday, here's a lengthy catch-up for you!
Since the latter part of 2019 I've been looking for commentary opportunities for this year, and it turned out to be a lot tougher than I thought. Many series and circuits are only looking at sorting commentary when January/February comes around, so I thought maybe Autosport International would be my prime opportunity, with most of the motorsport world being involved there.
A good friend of mine through iRacing, Mark Fletcher, was also at the event with some friends and competitors in the Sports 2000 Series, which tours the UK and races at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium on occasion too. We spoke throughout the day and he said that the guys were maybe looking for a commentator in the coming weeks, to be their series-specialist commentator on race weekends, joining the usual event commentators in the booth.
I asked him to put my name down but another partnership I'd been working on prior had meant that there were a lot of date clashes - I'd only be able to do three meetings over the whole year. This was soon shifted around though after I discussed this opportunity with "the client" (as they shall be known for now) and they advised that if commentary is what I'm after, then go for it and not worry about them.
After a bit of discussion over details for the upcoming season I was put in touch with Roger Donnan at the SRCC and we spoke about what we could do to come to an agreement. He was very intrigued - as we both were - and excited about the new prospect, and just a few days later it was confirmed that they'd be happy to trial me for the opening meeting at Donington Park in April, with the opportunity to go on and do the full season should they be pleased by my performance.
It's an absolutely massive step in the right direction for me - getting to do full, real-life circuit commentary has been a dream my whole life, which was only amplified by commentating at Oulton Park in late 2018 - now I would have the chance to stand in the box at Silverstone, Donington Park, Brands Hatch and even - I can't believe I'm writing this - SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, while the GT World Challenge Europe (formerly the Blancpain GT Series) is there!
I'm hugely grateful to Mark and Roger for helping this become a reality, and cannot wait to get to Donington at the beginning of April, to get the ball rolling. This does however mean that I'll no longer be available to commentate on the Buckmore Park 24 Hours, which I was really looking forward to, but unfortunately, this is business and I couldn't miss this opportunity. Anthony and the team will still do a cracking job, and whoever steps in to replace me will do as well!
I'll be documenting my travels - hopefully beyond Donington Park - over the season, and please do come and say hello if you're at any of the events. I'll pop a calendar below and a link to the series' website.
4-5 April - Donington Park
3 May - Brands Hatch
20 June - Oulton Park
11 July - Snetterton
15 August - Silverstone
19-20 September - Brands Hatch
10-11 October - Spa Francorchamps
Images are the property of Kevin Gibson from KJG Photography