RACER Hannah Chapman is hoping her bad luck is behind her as she gears up for her home round.

The Mini Challenge JCW Championship makes its annual journey north of the Border to Knockhill in Fife this weekend.

Chapman has raced regularly at the 1.2-mile circuit and was hoping for better luck after an eventful weekend at Oulton Park.

The former Dunbar Grammar School pupil was looking forward to her home round and said: “There are just not really many circuits like it.

“It has got its own personality and the different elevations.

“It is like a little rollercoaster and a lot of the English drivers come up here and really enjoy it.

“A lot of them say it is one of their favourites. It has a mix of everything. It is a rollercoaster of a track and quite short, which adds to its characteristics.

“We are a big pack of Minis and hopefully we will not be tripping over each other.”

The 27-year-old (pictured) made the step up to Mini Challenge JCW Championship at the beginning of the season, having previously raced in the Scottish Minis.

The new championship season has come with an increase in power and also the chance to race in front of television cameras as part of the support for the British Touring Car Championships.

Three races in the Mini Challenge JCW Championship take place over the weekend, with plenty of points up for grabs.

Chapman, previously of Dunbar but now living near Aberdeen, spoke to Courier Sport on Monday evening, just after she had finished testing in “horrible” conditions at the circuit.

She said: “It has been horrible weather. Some people quite like the weather – it is horrible for spectators [but] I quite like the wet.

“I did struggle a bit in the morning to find my confidence but we finished on a high.”

Chapman, who caught the racing bug at Raceland, near Macmerry, has had an inconsistent season.

Car problems at Brands Hatch saw her fail to finish the first race before coming home 25th and 20th in the remaining races over the weekend.

Last time out at Oulton Park also proved eventful in a weekend littered with accidents.

Chapman said: “Oulton Park was just mayhem, to be honest.

“The first race I did not qualify well but on raceday was ready to get stuck in. I had to take evasive action to avoid a collision and took to the grass where I hit a board and had to stop to get it out. From there, I was 20 seconds behind the pack.

“In race two, a car rolled and the race was red flagged and after the restart another rolled.

“I am hoping that bad luck is behind me now and makes for a turning point for me.

“My pace has been good and was really promising in testing but I could not put it together in qualifying.”