Valencia was supposed to be one of the tricks up my sleeve this year, but instead it was a real fight to stay going. My gearbox broke on lap one of qualifying which meant I started at the back in 27th place. However, I’m a big fan of the new racing format with the rolling starts, and in Valencia I made full use of it coming from 27th to 13th in one lap, by far my most impressive start ever. I was running third in the independents having passed the championship leader Corthals for position. My car was in great shape and I making mega progress in the race.
On lap six Corthals blatantly took me out of the race at the high speed right hander, turn eleven. I rejoined but had a lot of work to do just to gather one point as my car’s handling was far from normal after I was shunted off. Race two was a little better where I finished fifth in the Independents having made a last corner last lap dive down the inside on D’Aste for the position; it was the highlight of a race which had been a fairly lonely run until then!
On to Pau in France now for round four of the championship and this will be my first street circuit ever. I’m really looking forward to this as it’s been one of my dreams to do a street circuit and I intend on taking the bull by the horns as they say!
GR Asia have been working flat out to give me a more competitive car, they have practically rebuilt my car since Valencia and I will have a new motor that I’m excited about. I have been training harder than ever with my personal trainer Mark McCabe, last Saturday I did 130Km’s on my bike and have been working hard on heat training to cope with the heat in the car.
Aside from racing I am working pretty much working a 9-5 seven days a week to keep the sponsorship coming with some pretty exciting deals on the horizon, my PR commitments have doubled since the start of the year as well!
Special thanks go to all my Sponsors, McNamara Builders especially, my Dad, Mick Merrigan, GR Asia for their outstanding commitment to me and all the guys in Spots Med Ireland.
Let’s hope the streets of Pau produce my best yet.
Take care,
Em
www.emmetobrienracing.com.
![Emmet O'Brien - GR Asia SEAT Leon [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/320413.jpg)
