CATraining and Project Merlot head together into 2009.

CATraining Ltd have pledged to continue their support of Project Merlot into 2009. Chris Gage, a director of CATtraining, said "Even in these tough economic times it is important not to lose sight of what Project Merlot stands for - giving people the opportunity to develop a skill which they would not otherwise have the chance to try. It is only through the far sightedness of the members of Team Merlot - Martin, Jon, Robbie that his can happen and we are proud to support them for another year"

Originally conceived in 2006 as a means to get more people behind the wheel of their favourite sports car and drive it to the max. without having to worry about damaging their own pride and joy, and in the process help improve their driving skills, CATraining and Team Merlot share a common goal to help train people and develop skills. In 2009 CATraining will be advising the Project Merlot team on the development of a training programme for new drivers so they can benefit from the wealth of experience that the Team have now built up. This is very much at the core of CATraining own philosophy - using people with experience to share and develop skills - something we are all going to need in the near future. Martin Curtis reports that in 2008 many more MX-5 Owners Club members took to the wheel at numerous track evetns and they hope to do even more in 2009

CATraining Ltd have many years experience of providing accredited training originally in Land based industries through out East Anglia and act as advisers to among others, Lantra Awards (http://www.lantra-awards.co.uk/)

CATraining have their own blog at http://ca-training.blogspot.com/

Brands Hatch and its still wet!

I guess it’s the time of year, it could even have snowed but in the end it was just a damp track that awaited Project Merlot on its first track day at Brands Hatch.
On a day organised by MazdaOnTrack and featuring, yes you guessed it, lots of other Mazdas, Martin, Jon and new Merlot driver Ady Neill took the Merlot out on its last event of 2008.
The wet track at Rockingham in October had been extra slippery but the wet track at Brands was only regular slippery and by the afternoon sessions a dry driving line was to be found.
Ady Neill was fulfilling a long held dream to drive on the Brands Hatch track and Team Merlot were glad to help out, especially as Ady had spent many hours applying the cars graphics over the last couple of years and only ever managed a couple of sprint laps at Haynes before today!

Video here.

Rockingham Motor Speedway in the wet !

Project Merlot spent Sunday 26 October at Rockingham with a number of other MX-5s on a track day promoted by Mazda on Track. Rockingham Motor Speedway is the UKs only banked oval raceway and our circuit included part of the oval as well as a more traditional twisty infield section.


The most challenging part of the day was the weather. Up until minutes before track time began it rained making the track very slippery indeed and causing plenty of spins and pushing the skills of many of the drivers to the limit just keeping on the black stuff!

By the time of the afternoon session it had dried considerably and a quick change of tyres for the Merlot saw it go out on its semi slick Toyos. This was like driving a different car as speeds and confidence grew and we managed to get the most out of the faster banked sections of the track.
This was a welcome return to a proper circuit for the Merlot and great to be on track with other MX-5s for the first time for some while.

Check out Jonnie Boy's video lap of the day here;
http://www.vimeo.com/2131600