2023 Club100 Senior Championships
Lightweight Sprints
Round 2
Shenington
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| Photography by John Patterson @johnnyp5000 |
Overview
First time at Shenington Airfield. Bestowed upon us was a cultural greeting by the British weather on arrival. Luckily, the heavyweights were out first this time round to dry up the track for us!
Format is random-grid for the heats released midweek. We in novice Class 3 (NC-3) position towards the back. 3x 7-minute heats qualify the grids for 12-minute finals. Whether you're an NC-3, intermediate C2 or experienced C1 racer, it's the overall results from the heats that determine whether you make the C final, B final, or fastest A final.
The Heats
Practice
A new track for many of us, the track still wet, testing was not the best pointer for the upcoming heats. I was a second off the fastest lap, an underwhelming feat shared by other novices. But I've been in this slow, build-up situation before, though. I'll figure out how to improve these initial lap times.
Heat 1 P13 > P12 | P2, NC-3
I'm the leading NC-3. Track nearly dry now, the objective is to re-learn the circuit and resolve the lack of pace from the earlier testing session.
A good start sees me into P9, end of Lap 1. I've picked off a few C2s in doing so but with pace still not quite there, I need to focus and maintain this ground to the next NC-3. I drop back to P10 on Lap 2. Then P11 halfway into the sprint. Only one C2 separating me to the next C3 now. But pace is improving, I've found a rhythm, I don't feel under pressure. Just maintain.
Then comes the last lap. The C2s fighting ahead have completely backed up into me. One in particular is really off pace into Sector 2, so desperately defends every inside line against my advances into the final corners. As I open the corner to switch back on exit, the next kart behind, who was a full second away when we previously crossed the line, completely dives right back into the mix into Wilkins Hairpin. I'm VEX. A decent lead in class, squandered in the final corners. P2 NC-3, P12 overall.
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| Photograph by John Patterson @johnnyp5000 |
Heat 2 P16 > P12 | P3, NC-3
Track fully dry now. Starting 3rd in the novice order. A couple positions gained on the opening lap. I have confidence in the overtaking areas now and make some nice moves into P13 and eventually P12.
Having said that, the two NC3s ahead were making too much contact. I want to complete the race, so sit behind. However, into Stratford hairpin, turn 3, the kart ahead gets significantly alongside their rival, then completely backs out of the inside line, in the middle of the apex! I'm braking wide to cut back on both of them on exit, but the guy keeps doing this same half-a-move every time! I manage to get close enough elsewhere on the circuit and start a drag race to the line, but run out of road. P3 in class.
Heat 3 P18 > P11 | P2, NC-3
Plenty of action for this one. Starting last, I'm +4 into P14, end of Lap 1. A few laps later, I overtake my racing buddy Sam Morris into P13 (you'll remember him from my very first sprint at Rye House) who follows me through as I gain P12. I gesture forward to catch the guys ahead instead of fighting and losing ground to them.
While we do catch up, I'm not quite sure the message was received. I try to clear the NC-3 who was confusing me the previous heat, but Sam divebombs every single time I go for the move! I reassert position both instances and eventually assume P11, but the target NC-3 kart still finishes ahead. As it were, Sam was shunted off by the monstrous C1s on the opening lap so was understandably trying to gain back ground. Frustratingly for his recovery that heat, I'm now seriously back on form.
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| Photograph by John Patterson @johnnyp5000 |
The Finals
B Final P21 > P10 | P2, NC-3
I set-up gear for the finals, reflecting on the heats and feel confident I've done enough for the C Final to target promotion. Then Sam, who was disappointed from the previous heat not a few minutes before, has a big smile on his face to tell me that I've qualified straight into the B Final!
Qualifying P21, those who finished in the Top 4 from the C Final line up directly behind. I suit up and set-up my kart, hop in and glance back to see a bunch of C2s right on my derriere, completed by fellow NC-3 Ryan Williams. I'm in B Final - composure, keep it clean and enjoy the race.
Then I realise, amid C2s, are another 6 NC-3s in front. A good day for us N-C3s but yo, that's P7 in class. So my objective is revised - clear as many as possible. But it's not going to be easy. So let's start applying our lesson from Round 1 - the finals are longer than the heats, affording more time to strategise your pace accordingly.
Ending Lap 1 down in P25 was perhaps too cautious an interpretation, though. Alas, I'm P23 end of Lap 2, then into P20, one up from my grid position, the following lap.
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| Photograph by John Patterson @johnnyp5000 |
The race settles. I'm soon trading positions with a C2 racer. While we pick off a few other karts in the process, our own exchange is enabling others to catch up behind. As such, after I make an error, we're split by another C2. I'm getting frustrated; racing a different class of drivers is distancing me to whoever is still ahead in Class 3.
Lap 8, just over halfway. I've finally cleared the two C2s into P16. Now, catch the leading C3s. I tread carefully with the next kart, noting their dubious wheel-to-wheel antics during the heats. So no creativity. Slipstream, pull alongside and gain track position for the corner. Exhibition move into P15 on Lap 10. Another C2 is next, then Ryan Williams in P13 but with a penalty. So this is a strong track position. Yet I have pace over this C2. Lap 12 is spent reducing the gap created by previous battles. Then comes the penultimate lap.
[Onboard coming soon. As those final laps unfolded from Lap 10 to flag.]
Do read on from inside the helmet though!
I get right on the back of them out of Bruno Chicane. The C2 shuts the door and holds the inside line all the way to Wilkins Hairpin. But I get good drive on exit. Onto the main straight, they look left, they look right. I dummy submission to the natural, wider racing line as they go defensive. Then quickly switch back to the inside line for Turn 1. A slick move into P13 onto the last lap.
But we're not yet done. I can feel them slipstreaming me out of Turn 2. So defend into Stratford. I cover the inside line and brake late, but slightly overshoot and leave the door open for them to recollect P13 on exit. Stay sharp for Bruno Chicane. I now have strong confidence in this sector. They make an error out of the initial phase of the chicane, so I line up a move, open the steering mid-chicane for optimum drive on exit, then dash right to get healthily alongside: they cannot cut across this time.
All I need to do is hold the inside line for Wilkins and get good traction out. A bit wide on exit, I at least have good drive. I cover the sharpest route to the start/finish line and hold position to the chequered flag. What a race for my first B Final!
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I'm originally told I've finished P3 in class, to my delight. However, that was only the provisional result. Accounting for penalties, I'm promoted from P13 to P10 overall in the B Final, clocking the 4th fastest lap time and most importantly P2 in class. All at a new track. What a way to secure my first podium with Club100!
And guess what? P3 in the championship standings. Now to hunt for the ultimate performance and unlock greatness this season!