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Banbury motor racing sensation Will Bratt enjoyed a solid test outing at
Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk earlier today, the 19-year-old preparing well for
this weekend’s all-important Formula Palmer Audi ‘shoot-out’ which will
determine the sixth finalist for the highly prestigious 2007 McLaren Autosport
BRDC Award.
Topping the times during the second of today’s four 30-minute sessions with
a best lap of 1m 05.33 seconds, the BRDC Rising Star was also second fastest in
the opening session with a best run of 1m 05.27 seconds. Overall he concluded
the pre-event practice fourth on combined timings, just two 10ths of a second
shy of the outright pace.
During sessions three and four, Will wasn’t quite as quick as he had been
in the  morning with the fifth and eighth fastest times respectively but this was
simply due to some aerodynamic variations which he wanted to try out on his
Apotex UK-backed car.
“The first couple of sessions today were quite good, I was fairly pleased
with our pace, but this afternoon we tried a couple of set-up changes which
didn’t really work out so that’s why our times were slower”, commented Will,
“I’m confident in qualifying tomorrow we’ll be up at the sharp end and able to
fight for the front row in each of the three sessions.”
This weekend’s event at Snetterton is, of course, the finale of the 2007
Visma Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy but, more importantly, Sunday’s three
races will also double-up as the coveted ‘shoot-out’ to determine which of the
22 registered drivers go forward to earn the last finalists place in this year’s
McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.
Currently sixth overall in the Autumn Trophy standings following his FPA
debut at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent last weekend, where he claimed a
double pole position and maiden category podium, Will hopes for more on Saturday
and Sunday as he bids to win the all-important ‘shoot-out’.
 While it would be a great addition to the Oxon racer’s CV to become the
2007 FPA Autumn Trophy Champion, his chief aim is to emerge from the weekend as
the highest scoring driver over the course of the three races in order to take
his place in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finals.
The renowned accolade, which has been won in the past by Grand Prix winners
David Coulthard and Jenson Button, is one of the most prestigious in motor
racing and after finishing third in the 2007 Formula Renault UK Championship
with four victories, many believe Will is more than deserving of a place in the
finalists line-up.
“Obviously it’d be good to win the Autumn Trophy and we’ll be doing all we
can to make that happen”, added Will, “But my main aim is to make sure we score
the most points of any driver this weekend for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
‘shoot-out’. That’s why we’re all here, to be a finalist in such a prestigious
contest would be absolutely fantastic.”
Will and his fellow competitors have the benefit of a further practice
session tomorrow, Saturday, 3rd November, at 09.00 with qualifying for the
weekend’s three races scheduled to take place at 10.35, 12.25 and 14.25. The
race action, which will determine the sixth McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
finalist and the FPA Autumn Trophy Champion, takes place on Sunday, 4th
November.
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