We have a great deal to offer our customers here at McMillan Motorsport. Specialising in the build, restoration, preparation, maintenance and repair of Caterham cars – both road and race cars – on and off track, the list is endless.
The association with the Caterham brand stems all the way back to 1993 for us, and although we have claimed expert status technically and mechanically, the McMillan name is also well known when it comes to car and driver development and tuition.
The figure behind the team, Andy McMillan, is now synonymous with Caterham racing. With a history amassing a great deal of success, including lap records, race wins and championship titles, Andy certainly knows his way around a race car, and in particular, a Caterham. “Being a successful racer isn’t all about being able to replicate the fastest lap and being on the best lines” says Andy. “You first need to understand what the car is doing and why it is doing it. Is the driver seated in the car correctly, are the pedals in the optimum position for starters. Then when pushing the car is it over or understeering and does this change as you progress through the corner, what is it like under braking and acceleration. Educating a driver to be able to understand what the car is doing and to be able to communicate that back to the engineer is a fundamental part of driver coaching and it is a big part of what we focus on here at McMillan Motorsport”.
Andy goes on to say “We look at all aspects of car setup and optimise for specific tracks and weather conditions. Aspects of the car that we consider include differential preload, front and rear wheel toe and camber, front wheel castor angles, ride heights front and rear, side to side spring platform adjustments, roll bar settings and tyre pressures. It’s only when a driver understands what the car is doing and why it is doing it, are real advantages gained”.
“Once the car is setup then we focus on the most important part of any racer’s arsenal of skills, race craft”. Andy adds “A driver won’t always be on the optimum line, or the part of the track that he wants to be when he is in a race, so we develop race craft, showing a driver where to position the car when attacking and defending, how to be quick around a corner when not on the optimum line, how to setup for an overtake etc etc”.
Speaking as someone who has benefited from Andy’s expertise, long time Caterham racer and former 7 Racing 420R Champion, Phil Jenkins said: “Andy McMillan is a terrific racing driver, with an extremely high level of both technical and mechanical expertise. Off track Andy is able to convey perfectly the technical aspects of the car, and with many years experience behind him, Andy knows exactly how the car should be setup”.
Fellow 420R racer and current 7 Racing competitor, Mark Stansfield, has also benefited from the McMillan experience. Mark first met Andy back in 2016, and although a competent and competitive racing driver in other championships, the step into Caterham racing was somewhat more daunting than expected. This is when he requested the guidance of Andy.
“My first race went ok, but my mind was blown with the proximity of the racing, the intensity and how competitive Caterham racing is. A few days later after speaking to Andy about it, we went back to Oulton Park – same circuit, same car – and we spent the day working on my progress.
“After sitting in the passenger seat beside me, we swapped seats for Andy to show me what the car was really capable of, things which I didn't believe were possible, yet Andy achieved it. Smoothly, in full control and with apparent ease with metronomic consistency.
“When Andy coaches you, he teaches you to understand the car, the track and race craft, not just perfectly sweet lines around a race circuit. He teaches you to understand all of these things, so you can communicate with the car.”
Ian Noble, another member of the 7 Racing community, has worked with Andy and McMillan Motorsport for 21 years. Ian certainly echoes the sentiments of both Phil and Mark, above, when reviewing his experience. “Anyone that knows Andy will be aware of his incredible engineering talent and skills supporting us racers both on track and back in the workshop. I recently spent a day at Donington Park with Andy, benefiting from his guidance.
“Andy climbed into the driving seat first to demonstrate what the car could do, whilst I sat beside him. To understand in the first three turns that this is what my car is capable of was a complete revelation and a very humbling experience.
“He analysed my current driving technique throughout the day and advised in detail how to be better and quicker. I am more confident now taking on Andy’s advice and exploring my revised driving limits.”
If you feel that you could benefit from expert advice courtesy of Andy McMillan, please get in touch. Whether you are new to track days and racing, or you are a seasoned racer looking to fine tune your skills, we will certainly have something up our sleeves that could help maximise your performance on circuit.
For more details, or to book instruction, please contact us at:
E-Mail: Info@mcmm.co.uk
Telephone: 01455 239900
