2023 Club100 Senior Championships
Lightweight Sprint
Round 6
Lydd
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| Photography by @johnnyp5000 |
Overview
Lydd has become a favourite. I started my first race with Club100 here just over a year ago, a reserve intermediate entry for The Club100 Experience Championship. Fast-forward to this year's Novice XP Champs to record my first victory with the club, dominating the field by almost 11 seconds and clocking a 44.607, fastest lap of the day. So you can imagine I'm upbeat returning to this awesome south coast venue.
Format
3x 7-minute heats, results from which qualify the grids for the 12-minute finals. The grids for the heats are random and released midweek, novices towards the back. I'm in Novice Class 3 (NC-3), starting this round of heats P15, P16 and P11. Whether you're a Novice Class 3, intermediate Class 2 or experienced C1 racer, it's your average heat finishing position that determines whether you make the C final, B final, or fastest A final.
Heat 1 (Heat 3) P15 > P10 | P2, NC-3
I tuck in single file through the first chicane. Hold position into the second chicane. But two aggress becomes three, so I back out. Consequently, I'm swamped on exit. So I retake positions into the sweeping right-hander that follows. If that's how you man wanna play.
An action-packed opening lap is completed with me up to P13. I concede a position the next lap, but soon jump into P12 courtesy of a double overtake on Lap 4. After a few more positions exchanged, fun overtakes and a few penalties issued to some dubious racing antics ahead, I inherit two more positions to finish the first heat in P10. P2 in class.
An overtaking masterclass from the first heat.
Heat 2 (Heat 5) P16 > P15 | P5, NC-3
Straight out of Clay Pigeon, this start was mega! Avoiding the melee into the first chicane, I position the kart into clear air and leap into the Top 10. I collect another position around the outside of the second chicane. Then the false start flag is waved. I'm fuming.
We go again. A much more conservative restart. I complete a double overtake on the exit of the first chicane up to P14 into Lap 2. Putting pressure on the karts ahead, I'm also having to defend for the remainder of the sprint. Positions are exchanged and come the last lap, I'm up to P13. Everyone ahead starts taking defensive lines; I opt for the natural racing line, cut back on them for exit.
However, I get nudged offline on exit by two karts behind. A blatant advantage by contact. Alas, I lose two positions to finish P15 at the flag. P5 in class. No thanks to some subpar racing etiquette this heat.
Highlights from the second heat including that (false) start.
Heat 3 (Heat 9) P11 > P10 | P1, NC-3
And such discordance continues into the next heat. I gain a position on the opening lap. Then someone's right off into the barriers coming out of the first chicane. The track has to be cleaned up, barriers refitted. Full-course yellow. When we finally go green again, we only get a lap or so of actual racing. While gaining on the kart in front, we run out of road. P10 at the flag, P1 in class.
I can't complain about that one. However, the previous heat has me thinking the overall picture is looking less than impressive for the finals.
C Final P2 > P7 | P5, NC-3 | P12 overall, NC-3
C Final. Below target, but I'm starting on the front row again. I've been here before at Lydd, and all I need is to finish in the Top 4 to recover back into the B Final. But as the polesitter tells a motivating member of staff, easier said than done. Indeed, before we even get going, I feel my muscles cramping in both arms. We've also been here before, at Lydd. Just give it a few laps to drive it off.
We retain P2 beyond the opening lap. However, I'm constantly wrestling with the kart, sidewinds and tailwinds on the day making the rear very snappy. Counteracting that, the cramps and pressure from behind ... I'm holding on, but I'm struggling. Then on Lap 4, I go wide onto the high exit kerbs at the far end of the circuit.
Chaos Final!
However, in going for a move, I'm overtaken. P6. Which soon becomes P7, since I'm unable to figure out a way through what is now becoming a train. I'm unsuccessful in this tedious enterprise and cross the line a disappointing P7 in the C Final. My second lowest finish, only solaced by a more calamitous descent to P13 in the opening round at Buckmore Park.
A once dominant display at Lydd in the XP Champs ... unrecognisable on this occasion. The closest I got to my personal best 44.607 was a 44.9 ... in practice. A 45-flat in race trim. Furthermore, I've missed out on valuable championship points. Although ultimately, it must be said ... a false start one heat. Another shortened to 2 laps by a full-course yellow. How many ABCs, penalties and even exclusions? Not the best race meeting.
We're returning to Buckmore Park next week for the XP Champs, a venue my track record suggests is not the best place to seek satisfaction after a round like this. Although I'm a positive guy ... perhaps here we can improve ground again and maintain good form.