Zoe
Wenham

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My First Win! (And Then Doubling It)

 

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Profile

Zoë Claire Wenham
May 7, 1994
Tewkesbury, Glos
Nationality: British
Prince Henry's High School, Evesham
Race Car: VW Cup - MkV Golf GTI
Favorite Circuit: Oulton Park & Brands Hatch GP
Occupation: Customer Services at Geometric Manufacturing / Instructor at Palmersport (Bedfordshire)
Education History: Prince Henry’s High School – 13 GCSE’s at A* – C grade, 3 A Levels at CCD. Loughborough College – NVQ in Motorsport AASE Programme
Hobbies/Interests: Netball, Swimming, Shoes, Music, Hollyoaks

Snippets

17 Year Old Up & Coming Lady Driver From Tewkesbury. MSA Academy Driver 2010. Volkswagen Cup 2011 supporting The Eve Appeal.

News

My First Win! (And Then Doubling It)


Driving laps of Oulton Park in my head on Sunday night after a rather disappointing Saturday was the only way to find the time I needed to be competitive the following day. Saturday definitely was not my day, after what I thought was going to be a disastrous brush with the wall at turn one, somehow I managed only superficial damage and in FP2 I got more comfortable with the 150kgs of weight in the passenger seat.

Despite my day being very less than average, Declan put in a very strong showing and I had some great data to look at. Qualifying was another awful session for me, through fast right hand bends the inside wheel was scrubbing and I had a movement and vibration through the steering wheel – turns out it was probably only a wheel rim problem and some missing wheel weights. I was very disappointed with my time as I knew there was more pace in me. Sunday was a rest day, so I spent even more time driving the track in my head!

Race 1 on Monday saw me starting from P3, my target was to stay in contact with the leader and keep a consistent pace so that Dec could use his speed to move up the order in the last half of the race. Everything went perfectly to plan and I had a solid stint, our stop wasn’t perfect but neither was the lead car which served a stop-go penalty as theirs was too short. We finished the race around 20 seconds ahead of second place, my first win!

Dec started from P1 in Race 2, built up a 22 second gap and then pitted, this time our stop time (which was meant to be 1min 12) was over 2 minutes! We had dropped into 2nd by quite a margin and it didn’t look like another win was in our grasp. Luck was on our side when the leader had a big accident with a Ferrari, causing severe damage and I inherited 1st place. The safety car almost cost me the race 2 win though bringing 2nd place right onto my tail for the last 2 laps. I sat on every apex and hoped the chequered flag was imminent! Luckily for me it was and I held on to 1st by 0.3 of a second! 2 wins out of 2 was amazing.

Wenham and Jones team up for British GT4 Title Bid


2012 British GT4 vice champions Century Motorsport are delighted to announce that Zoe Wenham will return to the team in 2013 aiming to go one step better and win the championship alongside Declan Jones.

In 2012, Zoe came into British GT with no rear wheel drive racing experience what so ever. Despite this, she hit the ground running and her pace from the beginning was very impressive. By round two Zoe had already become a visitor to the podium and did so on a further 6 occasions during the season along side team mate Dominic Evans. After 10 rounds in close battle with Jody Fannin and Warren Hughes, Zoe finished 2nd overall in GT4 in her debut season of British GT. Returning for 2013, Zoe has her sights clearly set on going one step better this season. Speaking about the announcement, Zoe said: “I’m extremely excited to be rejoining the GT4 grid with Century who took me to 2nd place in the championship last year. The competition won’t be easy but with quick team-mate Declan Jones on board for the season I’m hoping we can pull something really special out of the bag. A win eluded myself and Dominic last year so our target for this year is to be fast, smooth and consistent but also stay out of trouble.”

Zoe’s British GT experience will be very useful as she teams up with Declan Jones who spent 2012 competing in the Ginetta GT Supercup. Declan had a very successful debut season in a senior class finishing 5th overall in the championship despite entering from the half way point in the season. Jones clocked up an impressive 7 podium finishes which included 2 wins and also 2 pole position starts. Now looking to progress his sportscar racing career, Declan is moving to British GT4 for 2013 and is looking forward to challenging for the title with Zoe as his team mate: “This year should be a really good season teaming up with Zoe especially after her very strong 2012 season coming 2nd in the championship. That shows me that she is a strong driver and lets me know that us two together can go for the British GT4 championship.”

Declan’s Dad and Manager Kelvin Jones added: “I was very excited to sign Declan with Century Motorsport to contest the British GT4 championship in 2013. At the time there were a number of drivers who were trying to get the budget to drive with Declan this year, so when Nathan called me to let me know Zoe had signed I was more than happy. I have watched Zoe for a couple of seasons and I have been very impressed with her success and ability. I have a feeling this driver combination is going to do very well in 2013.”

Team Principal Nathan Freke expressed his delight at welcoming Zoe back for 2013 and is looking forward to a strong season ahead: “We are really pleased to have Zoe back in the team this year. She did a great job last year and with a full season under her belt she will be looking to hit the ground running. The pairing of Zoe and Declan will be a very strong one. We have some pre season testing lined up so they will both have experience of driving together and we will be prepared in the best way for a full championship assult.”

Century Motorsport haven’t ruled out running a second car in British GT along with drivers in the Ginetta GT Supercup and selected European Endurance events in 2013. If you would like to join a winning team for 2013 please visit www.centurymotorsport.com or contact Nathan Freke at: nathan@centurymotorsport.com for further information.

Results

I started karting at 9 years old in the Honda Cadet class, switching to Comer Cadet for my last Cadet year at age 11.

2004 I won many trophies including the championship trophy at Dunkeswell for 'Top Cadet Novice'.

2005 more trophies were collected including a 1st place, and Championship honours.

2006 and 2007 I raced in the Minimax class for 11 - 17 year olds with a 125cc Rotax Junior engine with a restrictor fitted.

2006 I finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in three different club championships.

2007 I gained one 3rd and one 4th place championship picking up another win.

I progressed into Junior Rotax at age 13, using the same Rotax Junior engine but with no restrictor and for drivers aged 13 - 17.

2008 – SAXMAX (Family Run Team) 16th. I gained one 4th, one 5th and one 6th in the championship standings. I was also honoured for the second year in a row to receive a nomination for the Shenington Kart Club Lady Driver Of The Year.

So far this year I have had a 4th and 2nd place in the Dunkeswell club meetings of February and March.

After May I decided I would concentrate on my career in Car Racing and retire from Karting.

Having passed my ARDS test on 28 March 2008 aged 13; I made my car racing debut on 24 May the same year, at the age of 14 years and 17 days, in the 750 Motor Club’s Saxmax Challenge at Pembrey Race Circuit in South Wales. I was one of the youngest drivers to compete in a circuit race and probably THE youngest female ever.

Saxmax is one of only two junior formulae and is for 14-17 year olds, run under MSA regulations and uses largely unmodified Mark 1 Citroen Saxos.

I completed a total of 9 races in the 2008 Saxmax Championship, with my best result being a 5th place at Snetterton at the end of September; finishing 16th overall in the championship.

2009 – SAXMAX (Ferguson Motorsport) 9th. I am once again competing in the Saxmax Championship but have taken a team drive with Ferguson Motorsport and I hope to finish in the top half of the championship.

2010 – Volkswagen Racing Cup (KPM Racing) 21st, 120 points.I became the youngest competitor to race in the Volkswagen Cup at 16 and 15 days.

I am under instruction by Clio Cup front runner Stefan Hodgetts. He is also my mentor at race weekends, helping me improve every aspect of racing at all times.

2011 – Volkswagen Racing Cup (Slidesports) 8th, 296 points, 1 podium

2012 – British GT4 (Century Motorsport) 2nd, 159 points, 6 podiums

 

Schedule

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