In the second of two posts, Copart-sponsored driver Louis Foster talks pole positions, podium finishes and an amazing Euroformula Open experience.
Now I was a race winner, I felt like I could conquer anything. I was improving at every circuit we visited and quickly added another win to the list for the season.
In October, my year really stepped up another gear. Suddenly my calendar was filled with four race weekends in a row. I went to Snetterton and had my best weekend of the season taking three pole positions, a win and a podium all in the absolute worst weather conditions I’ve ever experienced – that’s what happens when we race in the autumn!
Fresh from Snetterton, the brilliant Double R Racing team offered me the chance to race with them in Euroformula Open the following week. After a busy couple of days sorting out all the admin to get there, we were off on the road trip to Spa-Francorchamps.
It was perhaps the most excited I’ve ever been. Spa is one of the all-time greatest tracks on the planet and I was on my way to race there myself. It was going to be a very different weekend compared to Snetterton and all the races before. I had a lot to learn – I’d never driven the car before and the only experience of Spa I had was from the simulator so it wasn’t going to be an easy weekend. However, I thrive off the challenge and always want to better myself through new experiences like that.
It was a tough start to the weekend, I only managed seven laps in practice which definitely put me on the back foot. The first qualifying session essentially became my practice time and, with no more than 20 laps under my belt, I qualified 11th for the first race of the weekend.
Now I was up to speed, I felt a lot more comfortable in the car. In the second qualifying session I was able to go fifth fastest which put me in a great place for race two.
It felt very surreal to be sat on the grid, staring at La Source. Driving a lap was incredible from tearing up the hill at Eau Rouge to planting the throttle and going flat-out through Blanchimont. I made a great start off the line in race two and fought my way into third through the first corner.
You’ve always got to do your best to make sure you’re in the right place to capitalise on anything that might happen and I did just that. The two leaders crashed into each other ahead of me which meant I took the lead in only my second race. Now the tactic had to change; just keep it calm and don’t make any mistakes. I came out of the final chicane on the last lap, saw the chequered flag waving and crossed the line to take the win. It was unimaginable. I thought I was dreaming and that it simply wasn’t possible that I’d just won at Spa-Francorchamps in only my second race.
Pulling into the pitlane, I saw my mum and dad and they were absolutely ecstatic, jumping around and waving at me. I then stepped out onto the podium and saw the team below me. To stand on the same spot as some of my idols was a feeling I’ll never forget.
I was sad when I left Spa because I didn’t want it to end. Then Double R offered me the chance to go to Barcelona for the Euroformula Open season finale and I jumped at it.
I knew what to expect from the car now and felt really confident that I could do just as well in Spain, despite it being another track I’d never driven at before.
We got to grips with the track quite quickly, I was in a good rhythm though practice but the track conditions changed massively heading into qualifying and that caught us out in a couple of the sessions. It came back to us on Saturday morning and I took fourth place on the grid for race three.
It’s an incredibly long run down to the first corner so I was really pleased to get a good start and keep myself in the mix. Then it all got a bit chaotic with a couple of cars ahead of me coming together and taking each other out. By turn four I was running in second and, just like Spa, knew that a podium was in my grasp.
I did it once and I knew I could do it again: just be careful and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Taking another podium finish was brilliant and was my way of saying thank you to everyone that helped to get me on the Euroformula Open grid.
Finishing as rookie of the year in British F3 is an amazing achievement, even more so alongside the win and podium in Euroformula. I threw everything I had at this year and I’m so pleased with how I’ve performed considering all of the challenges we currently face. I’ve learnt so much from every single race and every single weekend – and it’s all knowledge that I’ll put to good use in the future.
Without the support from yourselves, I simply wouldn’t be able to go and chase my dream. I’m so grateful for everything Copart has done for me and it’s such a shame I wasn’t able to have you trackside to share it all with me. Hopefully, whatever I’m doing next season, you’ll be able to join me properly as I start the next chapter in my journey.
I hope you all continue to stay safe and have a fantastic Christmas.
Article produced in association with M B Partners. All images courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography.
Copart first teamed up with Louis Foster in 2019, marking the start of a winning partnership! Find out more about Louis Foster and his amazing achievements at: markblundellpartners.com/louis-foster.