Qualifying

“An early start for qualifying at 08:30 at a wet Oulton Park. 28 cars on the grid and a respectable 17^th on the grid for race one, which considering the classes of the cars on the grid was a great achievement. Lots of others complained of little to no grip on the circuit but I never found it an issue during the session and had total confidence in the car.”

Race One

“With a pack of higher-class cars behind me, keeping my place in the middle of the pack was always going to be challenge and although off the start a couple of places were lost, as the race evolved and progressed, places were taken back and good clean racing was had by all on circuit. The car was faultless and the brakes remain a key part in being able to brake later than others, giving me an advantage heading into heavy braking zones on the international circuit. Maximum points and a class win were secured and leading to a good place on the grid for race two and its typically unpredictable April weather.”

Race Two

“Tyre choice was key for race two, with torrential rain followed by warm spells of sunshine and the choice of tyres was left until the last second in the hope of gaining an advantage in the race. I opted for an intermediate tyre and it paid off; turn one was tricky at the start and caution was applied through the next couple of laps with cars on the wet choice of tyres making the most of the conditions whilst they could.

“However, a dry line appeared fairly quickly with just a few wet and damp sections remaining, especially in the braking zones at Cascades and Lodge.

“Pace-wise – considering the tyre choice and conditions – was good again, with a further advantage in key braking zones and happy to report a further class win and a maximum points haul for the weekend.

“The conditions were tough and challenging and yet again, 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing came through the test giving me confidence throughout.”

“We managed to get the Civic back together after the crash and made the last two races of the year! 

“After a mid-season crash at a wet Donington Park, the Semprini Racing Civic underwent an unscheduled rebuild! 

“Joining up with the Club Racing UK team for the famous Birkett Relay, the EBC SR-11/Bluestuff-equipped Civic made its return to action on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. 

“Pressed into action for two stints rather than the planned one due to an issue with another car in the team, Jeremy quickly got himself and the car back up to speed and posted a best lap time two seconds quicker than when they had raced at the circuit earlier in the season.”

“The final race of the season was in the Trackday Trophy at Brands Hatch and was a unique experience as qualifying had to take place behind the safety car because of fog. This meant grid positions were drawn out of a cup with Jeremy drawing P30 out of the 34 cars! 

“Come race time and the fog had lifted but the rain had started. A very busy start at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit from P30 saw Jeremy stay out of trouble and then set about some overtaking… and some more overtaking!

“In tricky wet conditions, Jeremy relied on the excellent feel from the 91´ŤĂ˝ setup and made up an incredible 25 places to finish 5th overall and 4th in class at the flag. In fact, Jeremy made up more places than any other driver!

“On to 2026 now and plans are already taking shape for another season with the Civic.”

“The 2025 season has been a memorable one for Nicole Drought and the Motion Motorsport 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing Honda Civic Type R, with a campaign full of highs, challenges, and some unforgettable performances that perfectly showcased the strength of both driver and team – and the reliability and performance of 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing products under extreme competition.

“From the opening round at Snetterton, Nicole made her intentions clear. A commanding performance saw her take pole position, fastest lap, and race victory, securing maximum points and placing the 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing Civic firmly at the top of the championship standings. It was the perfect start to the year and a powerful demonstration of the performance advantage offered by 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing components, trusted by Motion Motorsport across every race weekend.

“Round Two at Silverstone continued that momentum. Nicole once again took pole position before engaging in a thrilling battle with Matt Swaffer’s BMW. Showing both speed and composure, she came out on top to claim her second win of the season, again setting fastest lap in the process. It was another textbook display of precision driving and confidence in her 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing-equipped Civic, further extending her championship lead heading into the summer break.”

“As the season unfolded, Nicole continued to impress. At Donington Park, she once again showed her pace by leading much of qualifying and mastering some of the worst weather conditions seen all year. Despite an unfortunate off caused by standing water, her earlier speed underlined both her talent and the car’s potential.

“Oulton Park brought more drama and determination. After early brake issues in qualifying, the team fitted New EBC SR-11 sintered pads, transforming the car’s balance and performance. Nicole immediately fought her way up the field, showcasing both her racecraft and the consistency of 91´ŤĂ˝ under pressure. Coming home first on the road, taking the checker flag, Although a pitstop timing issue dropped her down the order post-race, the pace was undeniable — and a reminder of just how competitive the Civic package had become.”

“At Cadwell Park, Nicole once again delivered, securing another podium finish after a thrilling drive through the field. Despite battling dehydration and challenging conditions, she pushed hard to close a six-second deficit, taking valuable points and keeping her championship hopes alive.

“Croft Circuit brought further frustration with a mechanical issue ending a dominant run, but not before Nicole had once again claimed pole position, fastest lap, and led convincingly before her retirement. It was another weekend that proved the combination of 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing technology and Motion Motorsport engineering could go wheel-to-wheel with the very best.

“Although Nicole will be unable to contest the Brands Hatch finale, her seat will be filled by last season’s teammate, Justin Roberts, who will return to the 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing Civic for the final round. The team and partners are proud of what Nicole has achieved throughout 2025 – her commitment, pace, and professionalism have been first class, and she’s represented 91´ŤĂ˝ Racing and all her personal sponsors with passion and determination at every event.”

Qualifying

“Oh dear, a complete non-starter – I headed to the holding area for noise testing and to await release on to the circuit. All seemed find until the circuit opened, when the car started holding its revs at 5000rpm. Back to the pit garage and a sticky throttle position sensor was found to be the culprit, along with an alternator that decided not all parts were required and started to break apart, how is your luck! So, parts were changed but qualifying was missed meaning I had to start from the back of grid for race one, I guess that’s racing.”

Race One

“The best start of my life, as the lights when out, I was off, and took three cars before reaching the congested Paddock Hill Bend before taking a fourth car before Druid. Within two laps, I had moved up eight places and was on the charge. As the racing intensified, 3^rd place was in my sight, but a safety car put pay to a space on the class podium with the race being finished under safety car conditions, following a collision between two cars at Surtees. However, I had made up 12 places throughout the race, giving my support and sponsors some exciting racing to watch as I cut through the field, finishing 4^th in class.”

Race Two

“Is it wet or is it dry?! With seconds to go, I made the decision to run on intermediate tyres. Thinking fortune favours the brave seeing as most others were on full wets, It looked a good choice until we placed on the grid when the heavens opened! Paddock Hill was very interesting on the first lap with plenty of ‘moments’ from others and myself, however considering the tyre choice, the race was on for a podium spot with Aaron Tucker from HT Racing in his 1800 Pinto-Powered Sierra (who is also my engine tuner) and after a few laps of chasing him down, the conditions held and I was able to get by before fending him off for the last couple of laps to take 3^rd on the class podium. Given how the weekend started with qualifying and then the changeable weather what started out as a disaster turned into a great weekend’s racing. As for the brakes, superb throughout in both the wet and dry, keep up the good work all at EBC.”

Qualifying

“2^nd in class and a personal best time.”

Race 1

“A very congested start to race one as we headed down the main straight to the first corner, however I was able to make up some overall places and get ahead of some of the higher-powered cars. Class leader Steve Primett however was able to pull a gap that I was never able to claw back, however all was not lost with a solid 2^nd in class round a circuit I have historically struggled at. As the race settled, I found myself having to defend my overall position from some of the higher class cars and enjoyed some real battles which was to be a theme of the afternoon for me.”

Race 2

“I have never been under so much pressure to defend! From the start, I was under pressure from the 2023 Champion, Kevan Hadfield, and so we battled for 2^nd in class on every straight and in every corner and even exchanged paint at one point as the battle intensified, however having to let a chase for 1^st in class go due to the battle Kevan and I am pleased to have grab the 2^nd in class but only a couple of tenths of a second!”

“I have been searching for a solution to the brakes on my 2019 Golf R since I first tracked the car. The braking system, while good on the street, is not track worthy. Add a Stage 2 tune, suspension upgrades and DOT R sticky tires, and you make the problem worse. 

“Through the years of ownership, I have tried different pad, rotor and racing brake fluid combinations with no success. The brakes are good for about three laps, then fade/warp unless I brake very early and light into the heavy brake zones. If I pushed hard for the weekend, I would get one weekend out of the brake pads and rotors. Frequent caliper rebuilds were required as the seals would be damaged due to the excess heat.”

“A couple years ago, I tried EBC’s RP-X pads. They were the first pads that lasted the entire weekend posting fast lap times and had plenty of pad left. Unfortunately, the brakes ran hot and chewed up a set of another manufacturers’ rotors. I reached out to EBC in 2023 as I had finally found a set of pads that worked great and would last more than a weekend of fast laps.

“Through EBC, I learned that heat was the biggest enemy. They showed me how to achieve an ‘intermediate’ solution to the brakes without going to a BBK. Rotor temperatures would exceed 1,500°F/800°C when I used brake temperature paint.

“Using EBC’s new sintered race pads, the SR-1s and their new two-piece floating rotors, I was able to have a great brake system that lasted multiple events over two years. The final key was using brake ducts to direct the air into the center of the floating rotors to maximize brake cooling. This got the brake temperatures down to the 1,100°F/593°C range. Brake cooling ducts are mandatory on this platform!”

“I was very interested in EBC’s 6 piston Apollo BBK. However, the temperatures I achieved out on the track could pose a problem with any painted caliper. I learned of EBC’s racing caliper which has specific features designed to handle the stress at the race track. From the hard anodized finish, the high temperature seals and steel castellated pistons, it seemed like the perfect final solution for the Golf R’s brakes.

“I installed EBC’s 6 piston racing calipers BBK on my 2019 Golf R in late September 2025 for my next track event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The difference was night and day. I had read that EBC’s Balanced Big Brake Kit focuses on the entire brake system. I can share from my experience this is not marketing hype. The brakes felt much firmer and the car did not pitch to the front under initial braking as quickly. The car had more of a squat under braking. This kept the car much more stable under heavy braking. The brakes were much more linear which inspired confidence. The 6R calipers require more pedal effort, making it much easier to modulate the pedal as you approach threshold braking. I used the EBC 307+ racing brake fluid supplied in the kit. I was very impressed by how solid the pedal felt under all conditions. Absolutely no issues with the brake fluid all weekend of fast laps.”

“Simply put, the EBC 6 piston racing caliper BBK setup was awesome. I tried both RP-X and SR-11 pads front and rear and both were exceptional. My braking distances down the back straight at Mid-Ohio went from the 500 marker to approaching the 400 marker with more confidence than the best setup with the stock calipers. Going forward, the SR-11 pad will be my pad of choice for three-day track events. The RP-X is an excellent choice for Time Attacks and autocross.”

“A mixed first half of the season!

“Semprini Racing’s EBC-equipped Honda Civic has had a busy and mixed start to the season. Electrical gremlins in pre-season testing meant the first round of the BRSCC Supersport Endurance Cup was missed, with the season starting instead with the MSV Trackday Trophy at Silverstone.

“This season, the Civic is once again with the tried-and-tested combination of EBC SR-11 front pads and Bluestuff rear, giving that great combination of stopping power and pedal feel.

“Solid mid-class pace at Silverstone, but importantly, reliability from the first race with a new engine wiring loom gave the team a huge relief.

“Next up was the delayed return to the Supersport grid at Oulton Park, a great track and firm favourite of both Jeremy and Phil. Tricky, changeable wet/dry conditions saw the pair again solidly mid-class without taking undue risks. The feel from the SR-11/Bluestuff combo meant braking in the changeable conditions was predictable and the drivers could concentrate on finding grip on the damp track. Despite a last lap clutch failure, the Civic was classified as a finisher and we breathed a sigh of relief, only to have the recovery truck pull the front of the car off and damage the oil cooler, meaning a bigger repair job than hoped for!

“With clutch and oil cooler replaced and the car put back together, it was off to Snetterton – a circuit the Civic has performed well at historically. Qualifying was tricky with both drivers unhappy with the feel from the car and unable to match times from previous visits. We started the race a bit further back than hoped for and after 20 minutes alternator failure ended our race early. We subsequently found a leaky shock absorber to explain the poor handling. Surely our luck had to change soon!

“Onwards to Brands Hatch and back to the Trackday Trophy on the iconic Grand Prix circuit. Jeremy is driving these races solo this year as Phil shares another Civic with his sons in this series. Putting in competitive lap times in an extremely close top Class B, Jeremy improved on his previous visits to the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit and was comfortable in the car, now complete with new shock absorber and alternator plus some other setup changes. A fresh set of each of the SR-11 and Bluestuff pads completed the car prep.

“A poor start by Jeremy saw him drop a couple of places and settle in to a battle in the middle of the class B pack. A safety car just as the pit window opened where Jeremy decided to stay out and gain a lap over those ahead who pitted backfired when the Safety Car picked up Jeremy as the leader and slowed him right down. Pitting next time around, the circuit went green as the Civic was stationary, compounding the loss in time!

“Now in 18^th, Jeremy set about overtaking anything in his path, leaning on the EBC brakes as never before to overtake a total of 10 cars – including three in once corner – and finish in 8th overall, 7th in class, with a new personal best lap time. The car felt great and performed well – the driver could do better!”

“Back to the BRSCC and Donington Park, where Phil re-joined Jeremy for a double-header Clubsport 45-minute race we used as a test for the main event, the 2-hour SuperSport race on Sunday.

“Another solid mid-class outing in wet conditions on Saturday set us up well for Sunday… or so we thought! Going out first in qualifying on Sunday, Jeremy set out for an early push lap while the track was quiet, unaware a helpful Mini had dropped coolant at the top of the circuit at the fast right hander at Coppice. Full of confidence, Jeremy turned into the corner fully committed to have the car go straight on and into the gravel trap, beached! The lovely marshalls hooked us up to a telehandler and dragged the Civic out so Jeremy could put in another lap to get the requisite three before handing over to Phil. As we’d received ‘mechanical assistance’ to get out of the gravel trap, none of our subsequent lap times counted, so we were plum last on the grid!

“Not to be deterred, Phil took the start and had overtaken five cars before the first corner as he set off to make up places. During his hour-long stint, Phill got us up to an incredible 2nd in class by the time of the change-over. Keeping it consistent and battling fading tyres and diminishing fuel, Jeremy had a good battle for position with the fast Mazda MX-5 in our class and brought the Civic home in 2nd for our first podium and trophy of the season! Finally a good result where car and drivers had combined well,

“Our travels took us to Croft circuit next – the first time Jeremy had been to the new layout, having last raced there on the rallycross circuit over 20 years ago! A fresh pair of SR-11 front pads and it was into a free practice session to iron out any issues and do a bit of set up work followed by a good qualifying in P2 in class behind the all-conquering Audi TT that is dominating this class, but in front of the MX-5 we are battling with.

“Jeremy took the start and actually overtook the Audi into turn 1, but was soon back down to 2nd as the rocket ship Audi took off and joined the battle with the cars in the classes above. Keeping an eye on the Mazda’s pit board, Jeremy could see the gap increasing as he pulled away and settled into a nice rhythm. The Civic then threw its latest curveball by losing 3rd gear as Jeremy came out of the complex towards the final hairpin after 20 minutes. Despite this – and a couple of excursions – he managed to maintain 2nd in class and hand over to Phil with a very useful buffer. Phil duly maintained and then extended the gap before a late safety car which – this time – played into our hands and increased the gap to the Mazda. We crossed the line for another P2 and another trophy, plus a front left tyre down to the cords!”

“Back to Donington and back with MSV for the double header weekend of Trackday Trophy and Trackday Championship. For the first time this season, Jeremy was entered in the TDC and duly strapped on a set of the control Toyo R888R tyres for the wet/very wet qualifying session. Driving on these tyres in the wet for the first time, the Civic Jeremy kept his head and didn’t push things too hard, to come in mid-grid. 

“The race started even wetter and after a reasonable start, Jeremy was battling in a group of cars when one – another MX-5 – spun in front and into the path of an evasive-action taking Jeremy who had nowhere to go, slamming into the spinning Mazda and sustaining considerable damage to the front left of the car. 

“It’ll take some time to repair the Civic, but the aim is to be back out this season, at the very least for the season-ending Birkett Relay, but hopefully for a couple more events before that.

“Big thanks to 91´ŤĂ˝ for the support again this season – we may not get through as many sets of pads as we’d have liked to due to our enforced absence for a while, but the SR-11//Bluestuff combo has been one thing we haven’t had to worry about in this challenging season!”

“91´ŤĂ˝ racer Nicole Drought saw her run of podium finishes come to an abrupt end in Round 3 of the Trackday Championship at the iconic Donington Park GP circuit, following a high-speed crash during treacherous wet conditions.

“Drought had dominated a soaked qualifying session in her EBC-backed Honda Civic Type R, setting the pace early and holding an impressive 2.7-second gap to the rest of the field. With 10 minutes remaining, she brought her Motion Motorsport-prepared machine into the pits, believing the time could be safe. However, as the track improved slightly in the closing laps, lap times began to tumble. Nicole narrowly missed the opportunity to start one final flying lap – the chequered flag falling just seconds before she crossed the line, denying her a chance to reclaim pole. She was ultimately pipped by fellow 91´ŤĂ˝-supported Clubracer Motorsport, whose turbocharged Golf GTI took the top spot in the dying seconds.

“Despite the disappointment, Nicole lined up P2 on the grid for the start of a race that was heavily impacted by the weather. The decision was made to start proceedings under the safety car due to standing water and visibility concerns.”

“When racing got underway, Nicole held firm in second position, applying constant pressure to the leading Golf GTI throughout the opening laps. Her confidence and car control in the wet were on full display, especially in the corners where she was consistently closing in on the race leader. However, the superior straight-line power of the turbocharged GTI made it difficult to mount a serious overtaking attempt down Donington’s long straights.

“Then, disaster struck. On lap seven, as Nicole attacked the infamous Craner Curves, her car suddenly stepped out mid-corner and entered an uncontrollable slide. Despite her best efforts, the car veered off and made heavy contact with the tyre wall, bringing her race to a premature end and triggering a safety car.

“The incident marks the first time in over 2 seasons Nicole has failed to reach the podium, a hard pill to swallow for the fiercely competitive Irish driver.”

“I’ve never been caught out like that before, so it’s all very odd,” Nicole said post-race. “I felt so comfortable up to that point, so it’s a shock to the system to be honest. Even though I had the lead car under pressure, I just can’t quite understand how it all happened, it broke away so fast, I was a passenger at that point… just gutted. It’s an unnecessary loss of points, and just something we didn’t need so close to the Oulton Park round, one I’m looking forward to so much. I’m incredibly lucky to have the best bunch of people around me who are there no matter what, and that means the world—but this one’s a hard one to take.”

“Motion Motorsport, who prepare Nicole’s car, will begin immediate repairs with the aim of having the car fully race-ready in time for Round 4 at Oulton Park in a few weeks’ time.

“Despite the setback, Nicole remains focused and determined as the championship battle continues – and with her pace clearly among the best in the field, there’s no doubt she’ll come back stronger.”

Qualification

“An early start for Qualifying saw the field take to the track at 08:30am. The session became broken up due to a stranded car on the circuit, but I managed to place the car 2^nd in class and put in a personal best in what I would argue is the best track in the UK.”

Race One

“An odd start to round 3 of the Modified Fords, with some confusion around the start with some cars expecting to be placed on the grid with others keeping an eagle eye and taking advantage to gain places and put space between them and the nearest rivals. I am pleased to report I was one of the eagled eyed who made good progress and put several car lengths between the 3^rd in class car piloted by Keven Hadfield and headed into Old Hall with a surprising amount of space. The race soon settled given the space that had happened due to the start, and try as I might, I was unable to catch Steve Primmet’s BDA-powered Mk1 Escort, but managed a solid drive taking a 2^nd in class and moving up the field in the process, continuing the solid start to the season.”

Race Two

“No mistakes this time by anyone at the start and cars went into Old Hall, Avenue and Cascades 3 and 4 deep; everyone kept it clean and drove with respect with close, fast and fair racing. Again, as per round 2 at Snetterton, the 2022 Champion Keven Hadfield and his Ford Puma gave me a hard time, so some very late braking and defending was required to keep him at bay, giving the spectators some excellent, exciting racing! Again, Steve Primmet was proving hard to catch, but perhaps he just pushed a little too hard to keep a distance from me and suffered an off at Cascades. I was close enough to take advantage and took the class lead with 3 laps to go and took the chequered flag for the class win. The brakes were faultless all weekend and were well and truly punished given how close the racing was. Again, many thanks to my sponsors, especially 91´ŤĂ˝ whose stoppers never cease to amaze me.”