Euro Max Challenge - Round 2
Lonato - Italy
Click here for live action from the second round
of the Euro Max Challenge on Raceworld TV
20th/21st May 2006
|
|
Qualifying – After 2 days of testing in very hot conditions qualifying finally arrived and after a couple of dramas in testing including one wrote off chassis Jack was still reasonably confident about how he could qualify. Jack managed to post a 45.28, which would put him 3rd overall behind Germany’s Toni Grief and fellow Englishman David Sutton.
Heat 1 – After a strong qualifying performance Jack started on pole for the first heat of the day and delivered a solid drive holding off the attentions of Dutch driver Niek Vos to take a well earned victory in the first heat of the day.
Heat 2 – On P2 for the next heat of the day with fellow Britain David Sutton alongside. Jack didn’t make the best of starts and dropped down to 3rd at the first corner but quickly made his way back into second as the karts approached the first hairpin. But Jack was having problems with under steer and could not move up any further having to settle for 2nd behind David Sutton who also took the fastest lap of the race.
Heat 3 – Back on pole for the final heat of the day and Jack quickly swept into the first corner and on the first few laps pulled out a gap on the rest of the pack. But with Kevin Korjus from Estonia behind him Jack new he had to push hard and only just hung on for the win by a very small margin by the end of the race.
Pre Final – After some good heats Jack had qualified on pole for the Pre Final. Jack made a sound start and kept the lead through the first lap. The racing was close and frantic through out the 34 kart grid but for the fist 6 laps Jack’s lead looked under threat as Niek Vos and Daniel Shellnegger started to put Jack under pressure and looked to be quicker. But as the karts swept into the second half of the race Jack managed to find some more pace and started to pull out a gap on the chasing pack and with the drivers behind now battling for position Jack was able to win comfortably by just under 2 seconds.
Final – After his Pre-Final win Jack started on pole for the final and all eyes were on him to see if he could take his first international win. Jack appeared to have got a great start as the karts swept over the hill for the first time but as they came down the back straight the marshals indicated it was a false start and once again the karts went round for yet another warm up lap. But as Jack turned into the second hairpin he was tagged from behind by the Austria driver Daniel Shellnegger who had made a reckless mistake and as a result damaged Jacks exhaust meaning that he would have to retire before the race had even started! With Jack out there was carnage at the front of the race with Niek Vos and yet again Daniel Shellnegger collecting themselves and Australia’s Steel Guilliana as they collided in the second hairpin. The big gainer from this was Britains David Sutton who avoided the carnage and was left with a handy lead until once again cruel luck ruled another Brit out of contention as David Sutton retired when his fuel pipe came off. It was then left to Germany’s Toni Grief to pick up the pieces from what had been a ridiculous race with most of the front runners suffering problems. Jack now lies 5th overall in the championship but there is still 2 rounds to go and Jack is still in with a chance at the championship if he can just buy a bit of luck.
"I’m obviously very disappointed with what happened in the final as we had looked strong all weekend and were definitely in contention for the win. I’m still shocked that a driver who drives and races as much as him can make such a simple error and spoil his own chances as well as others. On the other hand the chassis was great and the engines were great and I would like to thank the Protrain Racing team and Steve Ogden for helping me with the kart set-up and supplying some brilliant engines."
|
