This weekend was the third round of the IKR Rotax Junior Championship at Lydd Kart Circuit.
The format is the same with practice on the Saturday and the official championship qualifying and races on the Sunday.
The weather was perfect all weekend and as always the Lydd International Track looked stunning and I couldn’t wait to get out there and put some laps in.
Saturdays first sessions didn’t fully go to plan with the kart not behaving itself. It was putting in quick lap times but we were struggling with the front clutch sprocket not behaving. As a result we ended up having to change it. Once that was cleared we had smooth running and I was setting some really good lap times and felt that I had a really good chance on Sunday.
Sundays weather was just as nice and there was less wind so it was hot and track conditions were perfect.
I went slowly on the 3 practice laps as we were scrubbing in new slick tyres, so didn’t want to ruin them for qualifying.
I qualified on the front row for heat 1 in second which was my best grid start. The race start went well, I held my position on the start and once I managed to warm up my tyres I was hunting down the leader. I ran in 2nd place for the hold race and then on the last lap, my front clutch sprocket, rear sprocket, chain and sprocket guards all decided to break each other, as a result I had to pull over as I obviously had no drive.
Me and my Dad were gutted. We got the kart back, took off all the broken parts and replaced everything with new. We were against the clock as we needed to get everything ready to try and make it into heat 2. Without the help of Chris & Steve we wouldn’t have made it, so we owe them big time. We made it onto the grid from the pre-final with 15 seconds to spare.
Because I didn’t finish the first heat I started the pre-final at the back. Had a good start and immediately started to make up positions. I fought hard and fair and made it up to finish 3rd with the fastest lap of the race. This was just what we needed to give us a good starting position for the final.
On the grand final I started 3rd, had a good start, again keep out of trouble although it was close and got my head down. I was chasing two very quick drivers and I was determined t0 do well, I eventually overtook second place and then started hunting down the leader. I managed to close the gap and was running right behind him but unfortunately there wasn’t enough laps left and I had to settle for 2nd place on the podium…. which of course I was very happy with.
All in all based on how the day started we were delighted with how it finished. I love karting and love driving my kart and can’t wait for the next round.
Next week it starts all over again down at Bayford Meadows for round 4 of the BMKR Championship and the Kent Cup.
