Warwick now in demand

After finishing with a class win and ninth overall in the final FIA European Hill Climb Championship weekend, again in Madmax Race Team livery, the Guernseyman is looking onwards to a full 2020 campaign.

Warwick admits that the sponsorship trouble is not yet over – but the situation has welcomed a promising new development.

Although he is keeping the exact details under wraps, he revealed that his success has opened up some new doors for next season.

‘I have been fortunate enough to have been offered a place in a French and also an Italian race team who will assist me to run with a two-litre or more favourably a V8 car with a full championship campaign for 2020,’ said Warwick.

‘So we have a lot of work to do to find some high-profile and successful businesses and companies to come on board.’

Prior to racing in Croatia, Warwick had to make some heavy repairs to his Dallara F399 in a bid to solve the gearbox and cooling issues that had scuppered him in Slovenia.

He only partially resolved the issues but nevertheless managed to end his season on a marked high.

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Being a first-timer for this specific climb, Warwick had lined up for the twisting 5km Buzetski Dani ascent knowing he would be in unfamiliar territory.

Although recent resurfacing work had made for tough going in places, he covered the first timed run in 2min. 22.2sec. in what he termed ‘a pretty good opener’.

This put him in eighth overall at that stage despite the gear selection throwing up further problems.

Ultimately, despite an even better start in the second run, the recurrent cooling issues prevented what could have been an even more outstanding performance.

After finishing off the pace in 2-27.1, Warwick recalled: ‘I drove fully committed to try and improve to seventh overall but unfortunately the engine had cried enough at 125C water temperature and developed a misfire for the last 2km.

‘I eventually had to free-wheel the last 50m through the finish... not ideal as I was on for a 2-19 or lower according to the splits, which would have promoted me to seventh.’

Warwick still left with a cumulative time of 4-49, enough to win his class and place second to Czech national Petr Trnka among the two-litre drivers.

Trnka headed the Guernseyman by five seconds on cumulative time and snagged that seventh overall spot.

It had been a pleasing season for Warwick, despite the persistent race-car issues and some 4,000 miles driven between his three events.

‘All-in-all, it’s been a pretty successful, if not short, campaign in the European Hill Climb Championship with two wins out of three and effectively a “DNF” in Slovenia due to mechanical issues,’ he said.

‘Up until that point, another class win was on the cards there too.’

Warwick thanked his friends, family and the general public for their support, as well as crediting Zef Eisenberg for the financial backing that set in motion his return to the ‘Euro’ circuit.

Eisenberg also offered great praise for Warwick’s closing performance.

‘An incredible turn around of fortune, with amazing commitment and great driving from Darren,’ said the Speed Freaks star.

‘A superb end to the final round of the FIA European Hill Climb.’