Ok, so the F1 mini-series hasn't exactly gone to plan for KB racing, certainly not for me at least! After a reasonably competitive Round 1 back in May, I finished a disappointing 7th in Round 2, having started 9th- but worse was to come at Round 3. right from the get-go, I found myself struggling for pace on a grippier-than-usual track against some tough competition. Even a change of kart during qualifying couldn't lift me from the back of the field of 12 drivers, & I seemed to have a rotten choice of karts all evening it would turn out. I later discovered that the kart I had swapped into during qualifying (before opting to start in my original kart for the race start) had been ditched by my team-mate Krystian after only a couple of laps. More on the race later..
Round 2 one month earlier again saw me well off the pace of the front-runners, but at least Krystian was able to take the fight to Zac for a majority of the race. The highlight for me was the moment when I (fairly) managed to elevate Krystian ahead of Zac as they both came through to lap me. It's good to know I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, when it comes to race-craft, & I know some of the spectators enjoyed the move also! Up to that point I managed to fight my way up to 5th having started 9th, before I started losing power, leaving me a sitting duck for the karts behind. Even Andy Collins, standing in for Dan Healey, commented on how much it looked like I was struggling to get off the slow corners. 7th place was little consolation but at least my points combined with Krystians saw us finish up 3rd overall in the team's points for that round.
Zac's Blue Bull team took maximum points after he managed to overhaul Krystian in the closing stages of the race.
Between Rounds 2 & 3 of the series, I at least managed to take the win at a fun Sunday afternoon race, ahead of a fired-up Andy George, who beat Teamsport regular Ben Winter into third place, with staff driver Martin Savage in 3rd. Any hope of carrying my winning form into the next F1 mini-series round was quickly dashed, as I've already mentioned.
Starting at the back of the grid, with Jeremy, Andy George & Andy Collins for company, I made a clean but unspectacular start, stayed out of the usual first-round melee & tried to settle into a rhythm. However, I was soon passed by Collins, & it quickly became obvious that I was in for a long night. Pitting a lot earlier than originally intended (with the hope of finally getting a quick kart) I at least had a clear track on which I could possibly leap-frog some of the drivers who were battling ahead. Initially, at least, my new kart felt quick, the engine note a lot healthier-sounding & the handling predictable. It wouldn't last for long!
After my pit stop & kart change, I had at least managed to catch back up with Andy Collins, & leap-frog Jeremy in the process, & although it was looking unlikely I could break into the top 5, I was at least making progress. After a short battle with Daniel Healey though, I noticed that my kart was beginning to develop a reluctance to turn right, which on a circuit that runs clock-wise is a bit of a hindrance. This became a big issue through the 'S' bends at the bottom of the circuit. Jeremy was soon back past me, & apart from a couple of drivers having spins in the closing stages, that was my race run. I crossed the line a disappointing 9th, well off the pace. The most frustrating thing was just how far off I was given that a week before I'd been able to comfortably beat drivers like Ben Winter. Even taking my place alongside Krystian on the podium for our team result was little consolation. Still, that's rental karting I guess!
One of the only positives for me to come out of Round 3 was that I set my final qualifying time for Teamsport's KartChamps event. This meant I was into the next round, a series of Time-Attack style events taking place over the month of August. The fastest drivers from these sessions would qualify for the KartChamps final, due to take place at the Reading circuit in September. The first of these 'Track Attack' sessions takes place on 4th August, which is likely to be the next time I step into a kart, before the 4th & final round of the F1 series, where Krystian & I will be hoping to reclaim 2nd place overall in the team's championship.
Until next time,
Ben :-)
