Manawatu teenager Blake Dowdall is set to test with Rodin Motorsport in the UK to cap off a stellar motor racing season that has seen him win the New Zealand Formula Ford championship and earn a place in MotorSport New Zealand’s Elite Academy programme.
Dowdall was one of two drivers chosen to test a variety of racing cars at the Rodin Cars facility at Mt Lyford last month and impressed enough to be granted a further test programme, this time at the Pembrey motor racing circuit in Wales.
“I was quietly confident. I was very happy with how I went on the initial test, and I think I surprised myself a little with how I adapted to the wings and slick cars. I’d done everything I could do, and I just had to wait and see whatever they decided,” said Dowdall.
“There was certainly a lot of anticipation and I was checking my email every morning.”
The Year 13 Palmerston North Boys’ High School student will join Rodin Motorsport’s private test for both their British and Spanish Formula 4 teams at the Welsh circuit on 16-17 July.
“He will be driving one of the Spanish F4 cars but will run on Pirelli tyres and be set up the same as the British F4 cars. All data and video is shared between the teams,” said Spanish F4 Team Manager Paul Wallace.
“The precise run plans have not yet been decided, but Blake can expect to cover around 350km per day and use four sets of new tyres over the two days.”
Prior to testing at Pembrey, Dowdall will spend a few days at Rodin’s UK headquarters in Surrey for his race seat fit and spend time on their simulator to learn the circuit and the basic car characteristics.’
Dowdall hasn’t been able to drive any simulations of the track in New Zealand but says, “I kinda know what corner goes left and what corner goes right, but as for reference markers and things, I’ll have to figure that out on the track walk.”
In recent months, he has won the national Formula Ford title, completed two tests with Rodin, and been selected for the Elite Motorsport Academy, marking what seems like a sudden success.
“It’s definitely been years and years of trying to get to where we are, and it’s all sort of happened at once, so it kind of looks like there’s been a massive change in the last twelve months, but it’s really the accumulation of everything that’s gone into it before then,” said Dowdall.
“I’m also going one hundred per cent, not cutting any corners, and if I think there could be anything that might give me a one per cent increase in my performance, I will take that. Another crucial thing has been time management to make sure that every minute is used to the fullest potential.
“I’ve done everything I can to prepare, and I guess it’s now just one foot in front of the other and focus on doing the next thing the best I can, and the rest will follow.”
Dowdall feels well prepared for the upcoming opportunity after the three days at Rodin Cars in North Canterbury for the initial evaluation and didn’t find the move up from Formula Ford to Formula 4 too daunting.
“There are some really big contrasts with the cars, obviously wings and slicks, but the horsepower difference isn’t massive, and the F4 still has an open diff (differential), so they’re not completely different to each other but smooth is fast and taken to an extreme because of the wings and slicks demanding that driving style from you,” said Dowdall.
“I’ve done a few laps in the F4 car at Rodin Cars, so I guess it’s just more of the same, and hopefully, what I’ve done so far will pay off in the UK.”
Accompanying Dowdall to the UK will be his father, Paul, who’s been sharing his motorsport journey from a young age.
So, Dad’s advice? “Take things one corner at a time. That’s a motto we’ve had for years since go-karting. Nail the next thing in front of you and keep doing that; then the rest will follow.”
The UK test with Rodin Motorsport marks the culmination of an initiative launched this year in conjunction with MotorSport New Zealand, which provides a pathway from Formula Ford to Formula 1, powered by Rodin Cars.
Each season, the newly crowned Formula Ford champion is offered a testing programme with Rodin Cars at their North Canterbury base, Dowdall, and was joined by a ‘wild card’ selection, Toby McCormack.
Managing Director of Rodin Cars and Rodin Motorsport, Emma Duncan, said both drivers impressed in the New Zealand test, with Dowdall “just having the edge over Toby.”
“This is the first year we’ve offered this opportunity, and David is keen to see Blake test against the European drivers,” said Duncan.
“It’s also good for us to see how he compares and how that sets the benchmark for other drivers in the future.”
Rodin founder David Dicker is keen to offer motorsport opportunities for young New Zealanders, not only drivers but also engineering graduates. He recently announced two $20,000 scholarships in association with the University of Canterbury.
Header Image: Supplied
