If you were wondering where the skills of would be Formula One champions are honed, Chesterfield may not be the first place to spring to mind. However, that is exactly where one of Britain's most successful race teams, John Village Automotive, is based, with local talent providing the intricate engineering skills to motor their drivers to the front of the grid. Born in Chesterfield in 1953, John Village set up his race car preparation garage in the town of his birth in 1980. Initially preparing cars to race himself, the business thrived on recommendation which saw them turn their hand to the preparation of Formula Three, Formula Ford and Hillclimb cars. In the early 1980s they specialised in Formula Ford racing, winning the 1988 Formula Ford World Cup. In the 1990s further success came when racing Formula Vauxhalls before forming their current Euro 3000 Team in 1999, taking the team title the following year, and a Formula Renault UK Team in 2002. I caught up with the Euro 3000 team when they came to their home race at Donington Park. This was the sixth race of the season for the Superfund Euro 3000 Championship which sees the team visiting some of the world's most famous motor racing tracks. From Donington to Dubai the task will always be the same - to prepare and run cars which can reach speeds up to 200mph. And, with the championship winner given the opportunity to a test a Formula One car they will be pushing all the way.
 | | Alex Lloyd at Donington Park |
Team JVA have two drivers in Euro 3000, New Zealander Jonny Reid and Britain's Alex Lloyd. Alex was the winner of the prestigious McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award in 2003 and this was just his third race for JVA yet qualifying saw him storm to pole position. With Jonny second in qualifying it was an all Team JVA front row and John couldn't be happier. "Alex knows the circuit" John told me, "and has used that to his advantage. This is only his third race for us and it has been a big leap for him getting into a 3000 car so his pole is an amazing show. Jonny has been graduating all season and his performance is showing that. "Coming from New Zealand it has been a lot to take in, not just on the track but getting tuned in to English and European life. This is Jonny's first time at Donington and he has learnt the track very well. Now we would like to get a 1-2 in the race." Whilst speaking to John the team were continually busy in the background preparing the cars for the race in just a few hours time. And don't imagine the setting was a garage with oil drips and rags. The area was pristine as the mechanics and engineers concentrated on the job in hand with minute precision. With a full time staff of ten at their Chesterfield base preparing state of the art race cars and part-time seasonal staff including truck drivers, team boss John Village ensures it's very much a local affair. "The majority of the staff are local. I choose new mechanics and engineers from the local Chesterfield College and then we bring them on" said John. "Here today, all bar one of our Euro3000 team are from Chesterfield." As the cars made their way to the race grid disaster struck for pole sitter, Alex Lloyd. On the installation lap the driveshaft on his car broke though thankfully he was able to make it back to the pits. As the others sat on the start grid, calmly preparing themselves for the race ahead, Team JVA were working like demons to mend Alex's car. Even with the team's best efforts the pitlane closed before they could finalise repairs, meaning Alex would start from the pitlane and team-mate Jonny Reid was on the front row alone. As the lights went green, Jonny made a good start, leading the pack around Donington's undulating track. As the grid sped by, Alex was released from the pitlane and joined at the back of the 175mph+ train. At the front Jonny put in an impressive performance to gradually pull but further back Alex was drawing grasps as he scythed his way through the field. By the sixth lap Alex had posted the quickest lap and had worked his way up to seventh place from fifteenth, within a whisker of a points scoring position. On lap 11 he was fighting for that sixth place and going into the Old Hairpin, and trying to go around the outside of Norbert Siedler, when he touched the still damp grass and spun out of contention. It was a heartbreaking end to an otherwise superb weekend for the young Mancunian. Back at the front Jonny Reid couldn't put a wheel wrong but a new spanner was going to be thrown into the works. Over Melbourne an ominous sky was heading our way and on Lap 21 the heavens opened. This wasn't just a rain shower, it was an utter downpour and with the drivers out on dry tyres the race was immediately brought to a halt at the halfway point. The rain subsided but the track remained very wet and the decision was taken to restart the race with all the teams changing to wet tyres and a wet set up. The race would be an aggregate race - that is, times from both halves would be combined to give the final result. At the restart, Jonny Reid took the lead and all the drivers took it particularly cautiously through the Old Hairpin where there was still standing water. As spray was thrown up from the cars a number spun but thankfully there were no serious accidents in these most trying of conditions.
 | | Jonny Reid rides to victory |
A racing line began to emerge and on Lap 33 second on the road, Norbert Siedler took the opportunity to pass Jonny going into Redgate. And here is where the race becomes complicated for spectators and racers alike. For all Siedler was ahead on the road, because the times were being aggregated, Jonny remained in the lead on the timing sheets and come the final lap although Jonny crossed the line behind Siedler he was the winner. It was a stunning victory for Team JVA and their Kiwi driver, taking his first win. “I’m totally wrapped with this result!" said Jonny afterwards, "It was a really challenging race with everything going on: rain, shine and everything in between! I had mixed emotions crossing the line as I wasn’t totally sure if I had won or not, but now I’ve got the trophy, I’m ecstatic and can’t wait to celebrate with the team." And whilst it was not the end Alex Lloyd had hoped for, he was still voted Man of the Race for his remarkable performance over the weekend and his determined, but sadly shortened, race performance. After the race it was back to Chesterfield to regroup before the next Euro 3000 round at Dijon, France. JVA's other team, their Formula Renault UK team, will be in action at Donington Park on 25/26th September and we will catch up with them again to see how they are aiding drivers at the very start of their single seater careers.
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