WMKC18 Round 5
Round 5 of the Whilton Mill Kart Championship saw 26 drivers entered in a strong grid of mostly club drivers.
PRACTICE
On Saturday, the track was dry but seemed to be lacking grip as everyone was off the normal pace, however I seemed to be one of the quickest, doing a 45.5 at the track's best and in the final session doing a 45.8 which was one of the quickest times in that session. I also did some good overtakes and was looking forward to racing as I was feeling confident in the kart and myself.
On Saturday, the track was dry but seemed to be lacking grip as everyone was off the normal pace, however I seemed to be one of the quickest, doing a 45.5 at the track's best and in the final session doing a 45.8 which was one of the quickest times in that session. I also did some good overtakes and was looking forward to racing as I was feeling confident in the kart and myself.
HEAT 1
In the first heat, I started pole, and looked to repeat my heat win in January. This was soon shattered however, as an average start left me in 3rd half way through the first lap, and then I got completely wiped out by another driver who had lost control. They later apologised, but it ruined my race as I rejoined in 25th. I caught back to the midpack and finished 17th, which was a decent recovery drive considering the gap there was after the crash, but the damage was already done. My pace wasn't there either with some handling issues. With my front starting heat ruined, it put me in a terrible position for the rest of the day.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 1 RESULTS
FINISHED: 17TH /26 (-16) LAPTIME: 45.49 (13TH, +0.47) PERSONAL SCORE: 5/10
In the first heat, I started pole, and looked to repeat my heat win in January. This was soon shattered however, as an average start left me in 3rd half way through the first lap, and then I got completely wiped out by another driver who had lost control. They later apologised, but it ruined my race as I rejoined in 25th. I caught back to the midpack and finished 17th, which was a decent recovery drive considering the gap there was after the crash, but the damage was already done. My pace wasn't there either with some handling issues. With my front starting heat ruined, it put me in a terrible position for the rest of the day.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 1 RESULTS
FINISHED: 17TH /26 (-16) LAPTIME: 45.49 (13TH, +0.47) PERSONAL SCORE: 5/10
HEAT 2
In the second heat, I started 13th, and I fought well to get up to around 8th, but another crash occurred right in front of me, which I had to take to the grass to avoid, meaning I lost a fair few positions to finish 12th. This wasn't too bad as I still gained a position, but I needed something special in the final heat to make up for the first heat and get up to the front of the grid for the final.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 2 RESULTS
FINISHED: 12TH /26 (+1) LAPTIME: 45.73 (7TH, +0.28) PERSONAL SCORE: 7/10
In the second heat, I started 13th, and I fought well to get up to around 8th, but another crash occurred right in front of me, which I had to take to the grass to avoid, meaning I lost a fair few positions to finish 12th. This wasn't too bad as I still gained a position, but I needed something special in the final heat to make up for the first heat and get up to the front of the grid for the final.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 2 RESULTS
FINISHED: 12TH /26 (+1) LAPTIME: 45.73 (7TH, +0.28) PERSONAL SCORE: 7/10
HEAT 3
For my final heat, I started 25th, and after a slow start, I managed to make it up to 18th, which was ok, but I would've preferred to get a little higher through the field. I lost a few positions on the final lap as well due to a small mistake as I was in 16th, which was a shame, but it happens in racing sometimes and I moved on from it quickly.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 3 RESULTS
FINISHED: 18TH /26 (+7) LAPTIME: 45.80 (10TH, +0.30) PERSONAL SCORE: 6/10
For my final heat, I started 25th, and after a slow start, I managed to make it up to 18th, which was ok, but I would've preferred to get a little higher through the field. I lost a few positions on the final lap as well due to a small mistake as I was in 16th, which was a shame, but it happens in racing sometimes and I moved on from it quickly.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 3 RESULTS
FINISHED: 18TH /26 (+7) LAPTIME: 45.80 (10TH, +0.30) PERSONAL SCORE: 6/10
FINAL
My heat points meant I qualified 18th for the final, and I was quite unlucky because the majority of the mid pack were within a few points, so losing those positions on the final lap of heat 3 potentially cost me a fair few positions on the grid for the final. The race started, and one of my teammates got in a tangle with another driver directly in front of me, causing them to spin and meaning it was impossible for me to avoid. I crashed into him, with him unfortunately unable to continue. However, I carried on from the back as I did in the first heat, this time with a slightly bent chassis from the crash, managing to fight back to 13th after some well executed overtakes.
CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS
FINISHED: 13TH /26 (+5) LAPTIME: 45.86 (11TH, +0.45) PERSONAL SCORE: 7/10
My heat points meant I qualified 18th for the final, and I was quite unlucky because the majority of the mid pack were within a few points, so losing those positions on the final lap of heat 3 potentially cost me a fair few positions on the grid for the final. The race started, and one of my teammates got in a tangle with another driver directly in front of me, causing them to spin and meaning it was impossible for me to avoid. I crashed into him, with him unfortunately unable to continue. However, I carried on from the back as I did in the first heat, this time with a slightly bent chassis from the crash, managing to fight back to 13th after some well executed overtakes.
CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS
FINISHED: 13TH /26 (+5) LAPTIME: 45.86 (11TH, +0.45) PERSONAL SCORE: 7/10
In hindsight, if I didn't get crashed into in the first heat then I probably would've finished relatively high up and started much higher for the final, allowing me to avoid the crash at the start of the final and have a much better race. Unfortunately, this happens sometimes, and the weekend was all about damage limitation, which considering a lot of things went wrong, my driving wasn't too bad. Unfortunately the championship table has not been updated yet but we estimate I should be 5th or 6th. Thanks to Alex at AIR Motorsport and my family for the weekend.
ROUND 6: 24 JUNE
ROUND 6: 24 JUNE
