“This weekend, we attended Rounds 1 and 2 of the Armed Forces Race Challenge at Silverstone National Circuit.

“Making the results even more special, this marked the very first race weekend for the car and myself, making it a huge milestone after 18 months of work preparing the car myself to get it race ready.”

“The weekend proved challenging from the outset, with intermittent boost issues that unfortunately remained unresolved throughout both races. Despite the setbacks, we kept pushing and were able to bring the car home in both races, securing a strong P3 in class during Race 1 and improving to P2 in class in Race 2.

“A huge positive from the weekend was the performance of the 91´«Ã½ package. The RP-X pads paired with the Bluestuff pads and discs performed flawlessly throughout the weekend, delivering consistent stopping power with zero brake fade and remaining sharp and reliable across both races.”

“Massive thanks to the Army Sports Car Racing Team, 91´«Ã½, and KARLYONE CARE LTD for all of their continued support throughout the weekend. Your backing makes it possible for us to keep pushing forward, even during difficult race weekends.

“We’ll regroup, resolve the boost issues, and come back stronger for the next round at Snetterton 300 on the 20th of June.�

“A really positive and productive shakedown at Donington Park’s National Circuit for the car’s first outing, with lots of positive feedback from coaches and passengers that came out in the car.

“The car performed exceptionally well straight out of the box for its first outing, with only a couple of small niggles that were quickly identified and are easily resolved ahead of the next outing. Overall, balance and confidence in the car is very high, and it’s clear we’ve got a strong platform to build on.”

“Grip levels were outstanding throughout the day, allowing us to push harder with each session and really start to explore the car’s potential.

“A big highlight was the braking performance. The new EBC setup, running a combination of RP-X and Bluestuff pads, was absolutely faultless. Consistent, confidence-inspiring, and strong under all conditions, I am yet to actually reach the limit of the brake setup; they performed perfectly all day and are a massive step forward for the car, I am currently adding a brake cooling setup to helpÌýkeep performance at its optimal level for the races.

“I am now tweaking the couple of bits that needed attention and giving the car a once over ready for the first race of the season at Silverstone in May.”

The 750 Motor Club Armed Forces Race Challenge (AFRC) was developed to bring together four-wheeled motor racers from all across the Armed Forces. The challenge allows a level playing field of competition irrespective of car performance by rewarding consistency during races, so the focus remains on the driver rather than the machinery. Find out more by .

“What a weekend at Oulton Park; everything came together perfectly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better set of results.�

Qualifying

“Right from the first lap of qualifying, I knew the car had pace. The Type R felt properly sharp, and the brakes were on the money, instantly giving me complete confidence into the braking zones. Oulton Park demands precision at places like Old Hall and Hislop’s, and I was able to push the limits on every lap. That confidence translated into two pole positions – laying the groundwork for the weekend. My quali lap had blasted last year’s lap record by over one second. I set that record last year and the only change has been the brakes.�

Race 1

“From lights-out, I focused on managing the gap. The Civic was balanced, and my brakes gave me the edge I needed. Every time I came into Lodge or Island Bend, I could brake later than the fast stuff behind and extend the lead. The consistency of the EBC setup meant I never once worried about fade, even under pressure. Crossing the line first with the fastest lap was the perfect start.�

Race 2

“Race 2 was all about pushing hard from lights-out. On pole again, I launched cleanly and immediately set my sights on pushing hard and trying to get away from anyone behind. I started to lean harder on the brakes, especially into Hislop’s, using them as my biggest weapon. Lap after lap, the performance stayed rock solid, and that let me attack corners deeper than ever.�

The Difference – 91´«Ã½

“Without doubt, the EBC brakes were the star of the weekend. They allowed me to brake later, harder, and more consistently than seemingly anyone else on the grid. The bite was immediate, the modulation perfect, and the confidence they gave me turned braking zones into opportunities. In both races, they were the key factor that turned pace into dominance.

“To walk away from Oulton Park with double pole, double wins and a new championship lap record feels incredible, a repeat of Donington if you remember. This was one of those weekends where everything just clicks, and I owe so much of it to the reliability and performance of your brakes make.�

“The event started very well; I Qualified P1 in class (P10 overall out of 26 competitors). The car was fast and predictable.”

“Race one was hectic at the start, with a Turn 2 crash that I thankfully avoided. It was then a case of gapping P2. With a nice comfortable lead, the aim was to have fun and be consistent, with a few slides near the end of the race. I brought the MX-5 home P1 in class and 11^th Overall.”

“Race 2, starting P1 in class it was a relatively easy race. With the car was performing amazingly, I could out-brake and out-grip the higher-class cars. With Snetterton being a high-speed track, giving a significant advantage to high-horsepower cars, the little naturally-aspirated MX-5 performed above its weight, bringing us home P1 in Class and 12^thÌý°¿±¹±ð°ù²¹±ô±ô.â€�

“I recently used a full EBC Big Brake Kit setup with RP-X pads, and the performance exceeded all expectations. The brakes delivered exceptional stopping power, consistent feel, and outstanding durability throughout the race weekend.�

Race Outcome

P1 in Qualifying for both races

P1 in both 20-minute races

Championship Achievement

Secured theÌýchampionship lap record

“These results speak volumes about the performance reliability and competitive edge that EBC brakes provided on the track.â€�Ìý

“The key highlights for me included the braking consistency: I maintained consistent performance under hard conditions and high-speed stops, lap after lap.

“I was also impressed with the control and confidence: it allowed me to brake later and harder into corners without any fade; the confidence to consistently lean harder on these brakes was amazing.”

“There was also very little signs of wear or performance drop-off across both races, despite the consistent hammering.

“To conclude, the 91´«Ã½ played a pivotal role in my racing success at Donington; their performance gave me the confidence to push harder, brake later, and ultimately dominate the competition. I would strongly recommend 91´«Ã½ to any competitive racer or performance enthusiast looking for high level braking performance.â€�

“The first race of the AFRC 2025 season was at Donington Park’s National circuit. The race day started off with heavy rain; the track was completely sodden. Qualifying was very fun and slippery, and I spent too much time going sideways to set a decent lap.Ìý

“Race 1, the rain got heavier from our earlier qualifying session, but I opted for semi-slicks rather than a wet tyre. This was risky as pretty much everyone else was on a wet tyre option. However, I found the tyre was a good choice, only getting loose on a few parts of the track. A crash occurred on lap 1, causing a red flag, then we had to restart. On the restart, I got to P1 in class and was battling with C and B classes. Bringing it home P1 in class – my first win in the AFRC! The brakes were the key to lap, allowing me to close the gap to the quicker-class cars.”

“Race 2, the track dried for the 2nd race. Starting P1 in Class I had a good start and increased my lead. Not long after, another off-track occurred, causing another red flag. As I came up to the stranded car that was off-track, a Marshall pointed me into the pit lane. I entered the pit lane and to my surprise and confusion no one joined me. I wasn’t meant to enter the pit lane at all. As the grid formed back up, I was forced to start from the pit lane, which meant I wasn’t allowed to start until every car had past the pit exit. Very displeased with this outcome I put my pedal to the metal and pushed the limits of the car. With only 8 minutes left of the race, I went from P30 to P13. Finished P1 in class. I was over the moon and think it was one of my best drives to date.

“With mixed conditions and mixed luck, it had been my best results in racing so far, with two P1s.�