WMKC18 Round 6
27 drivers were entered for the 6th round of the Whilton Mill Kart Club Championship. I was looking forward to it after a month without racing.
PRACTICE
On practice day, we were relatively on the pace, setting a best lap of a 45.35, and consistently being close to the front runners' time (although it is hard to tell without official timing. Race day promised to be interesting.
On practice day, we were relatively on the pace, setting a best lap of a 45.35, and consistently being close to the front runners' time (although it is hard to tell without official timing. Race day promised to be interesting.
HEAT 1
In the first heat, I started 3rd, and instantly got into 2nd off the line after a great start. Half way around the first lap I took the lead. It was great to be leading again after such a long time of having to deal with bad luck. I held the lead until mid way through lap 5, where a 4 way battle for the win commenced for the rest of the race. I lost out, slightly lacking pace with a little understeer. I still finished 4th, but it was great to be at the front again after some bad rounds.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 1 RESULTS
FINISHED: 4TH /27 (-1) LAPTIME: 45.33 (8TH, +0.36) PERSONAL SCORE: 9/10
In the first heat, I started 3rd, and instantly got into 2nd off the line after a great start. Half way around the first lap I took the lead. It was great to be leading again after such a long time of having to deal with bad luck. I held the lead until mid way through lap 5, where a 4 way battle for the win commenced for the rest of the race. I lost out, slightly lacking pace with a little understeer. I still finished 4th, but it was great to be at the front again after some bad rounds.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 1 RESULTS
FINISHED: 4TH /27 (-1) LAPTIME: 45.33 (8TH, +0.36) PERSONAL SCORE: 9/10
HEAT 2
Unfortunately, the bad luck returned for the second heat, as after making a decent start from 15th, I was forced to drive over a kart that had been spun in front of me early in the race. This dropped me to the back and gave me an undeserved bumper penalty, adding 10 seconds to my race time. I fought back to what would have been 13th, but my penalty dropped me to 21st.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 2 RESULTS
FINISHED: 21ST /27 (-6) LAPTIME: 45.58 (11TH, +0.45) PERSONAL SCORE: 4/10
Unfortunately, the bad luck returned for the second heat, as after making a decent start from 15th, I was forced to drive over a kart that had been spun in front of me early in the race. This dropped me to the back and gave me an undeserved bumper penalty, adding 10 seconds to my race time. I fought back to what would have been 13th, but my penalty dropped me to 21st.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 2 RESULTS
FINISHED: 21ST /27 (-6) LAPTIME: 45.58 (11TH, +0.45) PERSONAL SCORE: 4/10
HEAT 3
In the 3rd heat, I started 19th, and again had a decent start, but a collision with one of my team mates would put us both miles down the field, unable to catch anyone except the novices. The collision was deemed as a racing incident and we shook hands and carried on as good sportsmen should. I finished 18th.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 3 RESULTS
FINISHED: 18TH /27 (+1) LAPTIME: 45.75 (10TH, +0.27) PERSONAL SCORE: 5/10
In the 3rd heat, I started 19th, and again had a decent start, but a collision with one of my team mates would put us both miles down the field, unable to catch anyone except the novices. The collision was deemed as a racing incident and we shook hands and carried on as good sportsmen should. I finished 18th.
CLICK HERE FOR HEAT 3 RESULTS
FINISHED: 18TH /27 (+1) LAPTIME: 45.75 (10TH, +0.27) PERSONAL SCORE: 5/10
FINAL
All of this put me 13th on the grid for the final, which could've been well inside the top 10 without the unavoidable crash and bumper penalty in heat 2. I drove well in the final but it was very hot by this point in the day, with a lot of rubber on the circuit, meaning there was too much grip and the kart would not release off the corners. This meant that every time I caught someone I would lose them coming away from the corner which was quite frustrating as it meant I could not make anywhere near the progress I wanted to. I still managed a 10th place finish after a great battle with one of my team mates, but I still wanted more from future rounds.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FINAL RESULTS
FINISHED: 10TH /27 (+3) LAPTIME: 45.90 (12TH, +0.46) PERSONAL SCORE: 6/10
All of this put me 13th on the grid for the final, which could've been well inside the top 10 without the unavoidable crash and bumper penalty in heat 2. I drove well in the final but it was very hot by this point in the day, with a lot of rubber on the circuit, meaning there was too much grip and the kart would not release off the corners. This meant that every time I caught someone I would lose them coming away from the corner which was quite frustrating as it meant I could not make anywhere near the progress I wanted to. I still managed a 10th place finish after a great battle with one of my team mates, but I still wanted more from future rounds.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FINAL RESULTS
FINISHED: 10TH /27 (+3) LAPTIME: 45.90 (12TH, +0.46) PERSONAL SCORE: 6/10
Overall, it was a positive weekend, being back at the front in heat 1 and back in the top 10 in the final. We are only 8th in the championship but it is very tight and we have had a lot of bad luck, so with half the season still to go, my top 3 target is still possible. Thanks to Alex at AIR Motorsport and my whole family for supporting me.
CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Stay tuned for...
SUMMER AIRKART TESTING: COMING SOON
KIMBOLTON JULY ROUND: 8TH JULY
WMKC ROUND 7: 22ND JULY
CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Stay tuned for...
SUMMER AIRKART TESTING: COMING SOON
KIMBOLTON JULY ROUND: 8TH JULY
WMKC ROUND 7: 22ND JULY
