Richard Johnson
Full 2006 Season Review

2006 has been an amazing year for me, after having only a few races in 2005, much was new.
It is always difficult to come into a series where a past sibling has already achieved great success.
Despite this, everyone has made me welcome and treated me with respect for my own achievements in Sports 2000.

During the 2006 season I have managed 5 wins, some on circuits that I have never tested or even driven on before. The season has had some very changeable weather, from sunny qualifying to torrential rain in the race.

I have previously only competed in karting, therefore it has been an amazingly steep learning curve. In karts, you do not have suspension, they do not reach the speeds of a Duratec and somewhat lack a little hp in comparison, but with the help and support of dad and the pre-set-up help from brother Nik, we have been able to achieve some amazing results.

 The hours I have spent on the car this year and a certain amount of luck has enabled me to have some fantastic reliability. I did have an engine problem at Donnington, resulting in reduced engine performance, which carried onto Snetterton where I was 40hp down. This lack of power, which as anyone knows is not good when facing a head wind down one of the longest straits in the country, slowed me somewhat! However, with the aid of some professional engine knowledge from Pride, we had it sorted by the next race.

Snetterton was my only poor race, but at least in the relay that weekend my toughest rival of the year Tom Mills, became my greatest ally. He drove a brilliant long stint to allow me, somewhat undeservedly, to share the top step of the podium with him.

 One of my most exciting but difficult races this year was at Silverstone against Nigel Greensall. Nigel was grinding the last ounce of performance out of his Lola, and fairly but cleverly outfoxed me. I probably learnt more in that half-hour than the rest of the year.

 During that race I knew that there were many people supporting me and for that I would like to say a very big thank you, I felt after that race I was truly accepted as a real member of the Sports 2000 family. 

I have enjoyed the Duratec championship so much because of the people within and around, from the club organisers, to the officials to the drivers, but most of all the families and the teams around the pits from Neil & Jo (Pride engines) George, (Yoko tyres) to the Mills family.
 Steve Mills always managed to shake my hand before every race despite his son Tom being one of my closest rivals.

But I would like to thank all the people that enabled me to achieve this 2006 championship. Firstly my partner Ana, who has done an amazing job of managing the kart circuit in my absence.   My Dad for his ever increasing support and Nik for pre-set-up help and advice and last but not least, to my Mum for her support.

I am looking forward to the 07 season with some interesting changes to the Van Dieman. We hope that the series has continuing momentum and that we can remain competitive in 2007.