Round 3: Smaller Brakes, Zero Issues

鈥淔or Round 3 on July 11, we made the only brake change in three years of running the S4: we swapped the larger vented front rotors for the same lighter, solid GD Sport Rotor we run in the rear, so all four corners now match. The goal was to take weight off the front end of the car.

鈥淭hat’s not a small decision. Brakes mean a lot in drifting: cold bite on the first entry, wear across a full event and season, and heat through back-to-back battles all decide whether you can trust the car. Going smaller up front puts every one of those to the test.

鈥淭he GD Sport Rotors passed. Paired with the Bluestuff pads, they worked extremely well, and we had zero issues moving to the smaller setup. We got the weight savings without giving anything up in stopping power or confidence.

鈥淥n track, Round 3 was a solid event. We drew Formula DRIFT PRO driver Rome Charpentier in our Top 32 battle, and I overdrove the car. That one’s on me, and it’s exactly the kind of battle I want more of. Knowing I needed more seat time behind the car we have set up to compete. I ran a local event where we lost the motor a few laps in. A broken exhaust valve blew a hole in a piston and took out our complete motor. Damaging every cylinder.鈥�

Heat 1 (Grid: 8^th)

鈥淲e got off to a good start, gaining two positions through Dan Wheldon corner on the opening lap. However, we soon found ourselves stuck behind the kart running in fifth, which was slightly slower but proving difficult to pass.

鈥淲hile looking for an opportunity to make a move, we also had to defend from the karts behind, making it difficult to commit fully to an overtake. Midway through the race, a couple of karts managed to get past us while we were trying to attack the kart ahead.

鈥淩ather than let the opportunity go, we tried to use the momentum of the karts that had overtaken us to find a way past the slower kart. Unfortunately, the move didn’t come off, and we had to continue looking for another opportunity.

鈥淎 few laps later, we finally found our chance going through Stow, managing to get underneath the kart ahead and make the pass to move up into seventh.

鈥淭he race wasn’t over yet, though! On the final lap, the first two karts battling for the lead collided going into Dan Wheldon. This promoted us another two positions, allowing us to cross the line in P5.鈥�

Heat 2听(Grid: 6^th)

鈥淪tarting sixth on the grid, we made another excellent start and immediately gained two places, moving up to fourth by the time we reached Turn 1. We continued to make progress through the opening lap and finished it running in third place.

鈥淥n lap two, the reigning champion made a move on us into Kestrel and took the position. We continued fighting hard and remained in the battle towards the front of the field.

鈥淢id-way through the race, we were running in sixth when a missed gear on the start/finish straight proved costly. This left us vulnerable into Turn 1, where two karts managed to get past.

鈥淚t was a frustrating moment after such a strong start, as we lost valuable positions through a small mistake. Despite continuing to push, we were unable to recover those places and eventually finished the heat in P8.鈥�

Heat 3听(Grid: 16^th)

鈥淪tarting from 16th on the grid, we knew we had plenty of work to do in Heat 3. The opening lap was always going to be busy, and we took full advantage of the action through the Stow and Willows complex, managing to pass five karts in the hustle and bustle to make significant progress through the field.

鈥淎 retirement on lap two promoted us another position, and we continued to look for opportunities to move forwards.

鈥淎 lap later, we got a fantastic run out of Willows and carried the momentum onto the back straight. This gave us the opportunity to make a move on kart 30, and we completed the overtake going into Dan Wheldon to move up into ninth place.

鈥淔rom there, we found ourselves in the middle of a closely packed train of karts, with positions six through to twelve all battling hard as the race progressed.

鈥淲ith everyone fighting for position, it was a case of staying in the battle and capitalising on any opportunities that came our way. Towards the end of the race, two karts ahead of us retired on separate laps, promoting us further up the order.

鈥淎fter starting 16th and working our way through the field, we crossed the chequered flag in P7. It was a strong recovery drive and another example of how important it is to keep pushing right to the end.鈥�

Final

鈥淥ur strong performances in the heats earned us sixth place on the grid for the final, putting us in a good position to challenge for a strong result.

鈥淥nce again, we made a brilliant start. Getting away cleanly, we climbed from sixth to third by the time we reached Turn 1, putting ourselves straight into the battle towards the front of the field.

鈥淲e settled into third place and managed to hold the position for the first quarter of the race, showing good pace and keeping ourselves in contention.

鈥淓ventually, we were passed into Turn 1 and dropped back a position. We continued to push hard and defend our position, but on lap ten, another kart managed to get past, leaving us fighting to hold on to fifth place.

鈥淎s the race entered its closing stages, we began to struggle with corner entry into Turn 1. With just two laps remaining, we were finding it increasingly difficult to get the kart turned in as we wanted, which made defending our position even harder.

鈥淯nfortunately, on the final lap, we lost fifth place at Turn 1 and dropped back to sixth.

鈥淎lthough it was disappointing to lose another position so late in the race, we kept pushing to the finish and crossed the line in P6, four seconds clear of seventh place.鈥�

Summary

鈥淚t was a weekend with plenty of positives, including some excellent starts, determined overtaking and a strong recovery from 16th to seventh in Heat 3.

鈥淲e showed that we had the pace to run towards the front, holding third place for a quarter of the final after another fantastic getaway. While a missed gear in Heat 2 and difficulties with corner entry in the final cost us valuable positions. Strong results in all three heats and good pace throughout the day. Was our strongest round of the season

鈥淏efore the dropped round we were placed 5th out of 23 in the standings for the 2026 British Championship. Looking forward to the presentation Awards in November at Silverstone Wing.听

鈥淚 would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support through this season and previous seasons as it is much appreciated and helps a lot.鈥�

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LATEST 乐播传媒 NEWS

乐播传媒 Set to Launch New Super Ceramic Brake Pad

乐播传媒 is set to launch its new Super Ceramic brake pad range at this year鈥檚 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (November 3鈥�6) at the 乐播传媒 Booth #23353.

Unlike market alternatives that use partial ceramic blends, the new range features a true, pure ceramic formulation. While pure ceramic powders significantly increase raw material costs, they deliver a massive leap forward in overall braking performance and low-dust operation, setting a new benchmark for the product line.

With at least eight other Ceramic brands, 乐播传媒鈥檚 new Super Ceramic material is designed to stand apart. According to testing carried out by 乐播传媒, the pad delivers the lowest rotor abrasion, longest pad life and highest heat threshold 鈥� making this a 鈥淭rack Capable鈥� Ceramic pad but note NOT a full race pad.

Members of 乐播传媒 UK made the unforgettable trip in an 乐播传媒-equipped Peugeot Bipper

This summer, some members of the 乐播传媒 team took on the 鈥楧ash to Dubrovnik鈥� charity challenge. It鈥檚 a student-led road trip, driving across Europe in a 拢500 car through seven countries to Dubrovnik, lasting nine days.

As a team, they raised 拢2,387.19, with the total raised between all teams standing at 拢27,785.57 for Amnesty International.

For the challenge, they chose a 2010 Peugeot Bipper Teepee, equipped with 乐播传媒鈥� USR discs and Greenstuff pads.

Overall, they totalled 19 countries in three weeks, and 5000 miles, making this a road trip they鈥檒l never forget.

乐播传媒 Selected as LeMans Corporation Supplier of the Year Finalist

乐播传媒 is proud to announce it has been selected as a finalist in LeMans Corporation鈥檚 2026 Supplier of the Year awards.

The US-based company is the world鈥檚 largest privately held distributor of aftermarket powersports parts and accessories, and each year evaluates its global network of over 500 suppliers to recognise the partners that drive business forward.

Placing in the top seven on this year鈥檚 rankings, 乐播传媒 finds itself in the top 1.5% of Lemans鈥� entire supply base 鈥� reflecting the UK and US-based firm鈥檚 dedication, operational excellence and commitment to shared success.

乐播传媒 Expands Board of Control with New Directors

In addition to the recent appointment of Martin Walder as Sales Director, the company owners have appointed the following directors to Freeman Automotive (UK) Ltd:

• Gail Northall as Director of Administration
• Lisa White as Director of Purchasing

With over 30 years of combined experience at 乐播传媒 they bring a wealth of expertise and a commitment that will underpin the company for future development and growth.

SPONSORED RIDER/DRIVER UPDATE

Preston-based Bobby Varey is currently competing in BSB鈥檚 ROKiT OFF BMW F 900 R Cup, entrusting 乐播传媒 Racing鈥檚 GPFAX motorsport brake pads on his German race bike. Following a promising weekend at Snetterton, we next caught up with Varey and the team fresh off the back of the latest round at the biker-favourite Cadwell Park Circuit, where he finished with a win and a new lap record!

Russell Brook and the Brook-Built racing team have been busy across UK competing at various motorcycle race meetings, including the NLR 750km Endurance Race at Donington Park Circuit, the Barry Sheene Classic at Oliver鈥檚 Mount and the Isle of Man鈥檚 Classic TT. We next caught up with Brook following the team鈥檚 final outing of the 2026 season: the British Historic Racing Club (BHR)鈥檚 last round at Cadwell Park.

Luca Wilkinson and Zack Weston of the NW Racing team are competing across BSB and its supporting championships for 2026, both proudly running 乐播传媒 Racing鈥檚 GPFAX sintered race brake pads and X-Series floating discs (front), with HH pads and Contour discs (rear). The latest round took the duo to the high-speed Thruxton Circuit, where more great rides secure more podiums across the weekend.

Tennessee-based pro drifter, Hooman Rahimi, is once again competing in the PROSPEC category of the prestigious Formula Drift series in the USA. Following mixed fortunes in the first two rounds of the season, we next caught up with Rahimi off the back of round 3 at the iconic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, where it was another rollercoaster of a weekend for the driver.

Kal Fortner is competing in the 2026 season of Gridlife in the USA, using his Mercedes AMG GTS as weapon of choice. Following the fourth consecutive podium at Watkins Glen, we next caught up with Fortner off the back of his latest round at the technical Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, where he secured his fifth podium in a row, as well as securing second place in the overall 2026 standings.

The Monoposto Race Club has been offering cost-effective single-seater racing in the UK for over 60 years. Chris Levy competes in the championship鈥檚 F3B class in his Dallara F397, complete with 乐播传媒鈥� Greenstuff pads. After more race wins and podiums at Donington Park last month, we next caught up with Chris off the back of his Brands Hatch finale recently, where more fantastic driving helped him to secure an overall podium finish for the 2026 season.

Wiltshire-based motorcycle racer, Max Symonds has been competing in the British Superbike Championship鈥檚 National Superstock category for a number of years. Following an unfortunate fall in the Donington Park race that put him out of action for a few months with a broken ankle and leg, Symonds was back in action for back-to-back Thruxton rounds of both BSB and NG Road Racing respectively. We caught up with him following his first weekends back on the saddle.

Retford-based Scott Stone is competing in No Limits Racing鈥檚 Pirelli Super Series 1000cc Power Trophy across 2026 on his Honda Fireblade, aiming to achieve solid results throughout the year. Following a positive outing at Scotland鈥檚 Knockhill Circuit, we next caught up with Stone and the team off the back of the Anglesey round recently, where he once again secured strong positions across the weekend.

Full stories:

鈥淥ur final round of the Monoposto Championship was at Brands Hatch on the GP Circuit.听Having not driven on it for over 20 years, it was going to be a steep learning curve鈥�

鈥淨ualifying went well, finishing P4 in the F3 class.

鈥淩ace 1 was damp; we stuck with slicks, but the wet-shod cars had an advantage. A late safety car on a drying track helped as I maintained 4th, narrowly missing out on 3rd by a car鈥檚 length.”

鈥淩ace 2 was sunny and dry.听A good start and we were battling with our championship rivals. After numerous lead changes and a terrific race, we finished 3rd 鈥� again, a car鈥檚 length behind 2nd. We did however secure the fastest lap.听听

鈥淎ll this helped us with securing 3rd overall in the championship 鈥� narrowly missing out on the overall win.听

鈥淲e鈥檇 like to thank 乐播传媒 for another fantastic year. We go again in 2027鈥︹��

鈥淭he event started off a bit rough as the first practice session gave us 0 laps of practice because of all the accidents that happened before us. They made some track changes and we ended up getting a few laps in our next practice session.”

听

Starting their adventure from Dover, they headed towards Brussels, then Stuttgart before reaching the Italian, Swiss and Austrian Alps. They visited Lake Garda and took on the famous Stelvio Pass before continuing down to Venice and along the Adriatic coastline through Slovenia and down the coast of Croatia towards Dubrovnik.

LATEST 乐播传媒 NEWS

乐播传媒 Appoints New Sales Director

To handle the ever expanding demand from new and existing customers for its product range, 乐播传媒 has appointed Martin Walder as its new Global Sales Director effect Monday 17^th听August 2026.

Martin has 20+ years of experience in customer facing positions at all business levels in engineering, and will be responsible for all the 乐播传媒 Group鈥檚 customer base, globally.

• Martin will be based in the Northampton facility and can be contacted by clicking here.

乐播传媒 Enjoys Successful Gravity 2026 Show

The 乐播传媒 and 乐播传媒 Racing teams thoroughly enjoyed another instalment of the Gravity indoor car show recently, set at Birmingham鈥檚 National Exhibition Centre.

Acting as a headline sponsor for the second year running, the braking firm once again hosted a significant trade stand in the heart of the event, jam-packed full of components, merch and 乐播传媒-shod vehicles.

A huge thank-you to everyone who visited the 乐播传媒 stand across the weekend.

You can next catch us at the epic SEMA show (3-6 November, Las Vegas Convention Centre) and the EICMA motorcycle expo (5-8 November, Milan Rho-Fiera).

• Click here for the full story.

SPONSORED RIDER/DRIVER UPDATE

Eric 鈥楧ewey鈥� DeWitt has been competing in Gridlife鈥檚 StreetMod category with his modified Subaru Impreza WRX for some time now. Utilising 乐播传媒 Racing鈥檚 SR-21 sintered endurance motorsport brake pads, DeWitt has enjoyed multiple front-row lockouts in the first half of the 2026 season, alongside fellow SR-21 racer, Kal Fortner. We next caught up with DeWitt following his successful third and fourth rounds of the season, at Gingerman Raceway and Watkins Glen respectively 鈥� two more incredibly lucrative weekends that have already secured him 2026 class victory with a few rounds still to go.

13-year-old kart racer, Myles Burton, is currently competing in the Junior Rotax category for 2026. His latest outing took him to the acclaimed Kimbolton Festival at Hunts Kart Racing Club in Huntingdon, where he sustained top-10 results throughout the weekend, despite 42 entrants taking part.

Canadian road racer Dan Kruger has been using 乐播传媒 Racing鈥檚 GPFAX track/race brake pad formula on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R for his recent campaigns, in an ongoing relationship with 乐播传媒 that has lasted over a decade. Sitting at the sharp end of the AMA/WERA Superbike/Superstock standings, Kruger recently entered the debutant six-hour N2RA Superbike race at Virginia International Raceway with the Team KYT Americas outfit, where he secured Superbike class victory alongside Brandon Cretu and Brian D鈥橝pice.

The Gigglepin Racing team has been at the sharp end of various international off-road racing championships in recent years, being proudly supported by 乐播传媒 throughout this time. With multiple championships wins under their belt, the latest outing for the Kent-based team was to reclaim Ultra 4 Europe鈥檚 鈥楰ing of Britain鈥� trophy that saw a four-year hiatus until re-emerging in 2026 (with Gigglepin winning the previous round in 2021).

Retford-based Scott Stone is competing in No Limits Racing鈥檚 Pirelli Super Series 1000cc Power Trophy across 2026 on his Honda Fireblade, aiming to achieve solid results throughout the year. Following some great riding recently, we next caught up with Stone off the back of his Cadwell Park round, where he鈥檇 recently swapped out his Yamaha R1 for a Honda Fireblade and used the weekend to get used to the new machine.

Kal Fortner is competing in the 2026 season of Gridlife in the USA, using his Mercedes AMG GTS as weapon of choice. Following a podium finish at Grid Life Carolina and more podiums in Atlanta, we next caught up with Fortner off the back of his latest round at the iconic Watkins Glen in New York State, where he achieved another podium finish.

Tennessee-based pro drifter, Hooman Rahimi, is once again competing in the PROSPEC category of the prestigious Formula Drift series in the USA. With a mixed bag of luck in the previous round at Road Atlanta, we next caught up with Rahimi following his latest round at Connecticut, where he also shared info about the upcoming weekend at Indianapolis.

The NW Racing team is once again competing in the BSB Junior Sportbike category for the 2026 season, continuing to opt for 乐播传媒鈥� GPFAX brake pads and X-Series discs (front) and HH pads and Contour discs (rear) on their various motorcycles. We caught up with the team after their latest rounds at Snetterton And Brands Hatch, where they took home more big results.

Full stories: