One step closer – a huge result at Kimbolton

Sam took one step closer to the top step by snatching third spot on the last corner of the final, finishing 1/100th second in front. Mixing it with the Super One boys all weekend this represents a major achievement in only our first full season.

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The predicted wet saturday never materialised so further development of our dry setup was possible this week. Last weekends brake problems resurfaced almost immediately and Sam spun in both the first 2 sessions which was somewhat disheartening. But with the help and advice from a number of people [thanks all – Dad] we worked through it and actually had the problem resolved by lunchtime. This gave us time to test engines and tyres against our preferred setup in the afternoon and Sam finished the day very optimistic with a new PB for Kimbolton of 43.20.

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Race Day

The warm weather continued on Sunday with clear blue skies. The race program however looked more daunting as the list of high calibre competitors meant that despite Sams speed, the job was far from done. With so many evenly matched competitors, and 4 Super One drivers, our result would depend on race craft and a little luck! With such a strong grid a top 10 finish was not even guaranteed.

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For heat one Sam was drawn P5 but after turn 1 had made that starting position P3, displacing Liam Murray and Richard Woolmer. Richard took the place back on lap 2 coming into Kimbolton corner. SuperOne driver Stephen Letts made it known he was behind Sam with a lot of nudging and pushing.

“I realised it was Letts so decided not to fight it too hard at this stage of the meeting. The S1 boys are usually very clean racers. I wanted to finish.“

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Another S1 front runner Jack Partridge then passed Sam followed by Matt Davies leaving Sam in 6th for 3 or 4 laps. As our tyres came on Sam’s pace improved and he closed up to the back of Adam Strong and Matt Davies who were themselves battling for position.

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“Adam was slow out of the bus stop, Matt Davies went outside of Adam, I took the inside. We were three abreast wheel to wheel going into Hanger. They must have touched wheels resulting in Matt Davies coming off worst – I came out in front but then Ryan Green nipped through as the incident had slowed me down too. Going into the last corner I took that place back and crossed the line side by side. We didn’t know the result until later – I had my nose in front and got 4th place!!“

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Heat 2 saw Sam starting in P14 and picked up 3 places in the usual Junior TKM first corner scramble. As the race settled down Sam put in some steady laps until by the half way marker he was up to 5th. Liam Murray nicked a place but Sam was able to retake it on the following lap.

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“In the last couple of laps I got past Brad Peck and got down the inside of  Matt Davies at Kestrel, but I couldn’t make it stick as he held the line for the next corner, Kimbolton.  But another 4th place was good“.

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Heat 3 didn’t go quite as well. Compromised in the first corner melee,  Sam dropped to P19 but worse, the field spread out very quickly and left Sam with too much work to do. He recovered well to get back up to 11th but it was disappointing compared to the previous two heats.

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“One guy slowed me down as he was defending all the way down the straights. Many of the other drivers would have binned him but I waited to pass him properly as I don’t need any points on my license, but it hurt me. I lost too much time.“

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Final

Despite that disappointing heat 3 result Sam still qualified in P4 on the grid of 26, on the outside line for turn 1 with Richard Woolmer on the inside. At the first attempt to start the race the red flag was soon out at the notorious first corner.

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“As I turned into the first corner my bumper hooked into the back of Brad Pecks rear wheel and we tangled“.

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Sam and Brad slowed as they were hooked together causing a bit of a pile up behind them. Adam Strong came off worst and the red flag came out. The race was abandoned as we were all told to come back at the end of the race program.

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At the restart some 90 minutes later, Sam got through the first corner safely and emerged in 5th. Jack Partridge came through and Richard Woolmer tangled falling off the circuit temporarily, leaving Sam in 5th behind Ryan Green. Sam and Ryan then worked together to catch the leading 3 by using the slip stream effect down the straights. Sam would use the aerodynamic advantage of following another kart to push the back of Ryan’s kart to give them both a straight line speed advantage. This allowed them to pass Bradley Peck and catch up on Letts and Partridge at the front. They tangled demoting Partridge behind Sam, but he recovered and came back through Sam and Ryan.

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“I found I had dropped back a bit after Jack came through me and he battled with Ryan for a few laps. On the last lap coming into Kestrel they came together and slowed each other down. I was able to get close and had a go at Ryan into Kimbolton corner. Unbelievably the finish was identical to Heat 1 and I won 3rd place by 1/100 second.“

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This was a great result with some very fair racing. After the scrutineers checked the engine was all legal, Sam was presented with a well deserved 3rd place trophy – a seasons best result.

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Full results here.

Next race Rissington 3rd Oct.