Qualifying – After a few changes to the kart following the free practice session the kart felt much better and by lap 5 I was at the top of the time sheets. I opted to pit as to change the tire pressures and once back out on track the kart felt even better and I was sure I could take around another 0.5 of a second off my time. Unfortunately luck was not on my side and I was shown a mechanical flag by one of the marshals who had given mechanical flag to me by mistake. By the time I pitted the session was up and having only completed the first half of the session I had to settle for 2nd on the grid as Jody Whitmore had gone quicker in the latter part of the session when the circuit had began to dry.

Qualifying Race – Race day arrived and I started the qualifying heat from 2nd on the grid alongside polesitter Jody Whitmore with Nick Goodfellow, Jon Neville directly behind me. Going into the first corner I fell back to 3rd as Goodfellow crept into 2nd. But coming onto park straight we both able to slip stream past Jody Whitmore. For the next few laps me Nick and Sam Moore continued to battle for the lead until an accident further down the field meant the red flag was brought out. The race was restarted and I was able to have the lead after the first lap. I managed to pull out a gap on Moore but on the last corner a back marker missed a gear and to avoid him I had to take to the kerbs and unfortunately went into a spin I managed to save it before I crashed out totally but lost my lead to Moore and had to settle for 2nd.

Pre Final – After the strong performance in the qualifying heat I was looking forward to what was going to be a very interesting pre final. I made a decent start and tucked in behind Moore for the first lap. But Ian Larder then overtook the pair of us up the long straight. From then on me, Ian and Sam managed to pull a gap on the rest of the field and the lead was swapping every lap. Going into the last lap I had the lead but was relegated back to 3rd as we went up the start finish straight. I managed to take 2nd back from Sam Moore into Park bend and latch on to the back of the leader, Ian Larder. I followed him up through the mountain section before pulling out of the slipstream before Hall bends and took the lead which I held through the last few bends.

Final – After winning the pre final I started the final from pole position but got a terrible start and was sucked up by the pack I fell back to 6th and then someone turned into me up the straight and I span round and karts were going everywhere. I managed to do a full 360 and keep the kart in a straight line. Amazingly I was only back to 5th as most of the 17 kart field had also been involved in the carnage! The front 2 of Moore and Larder had a handy lead though and I knew if I was to win I had to think and act quickly. I managed to get past Michael Groves up Park straight before Jody Whitmore decided to slipstream me up the straight. I knew Jody would not work with me if I tried to pass him so I just decided to tuck in behind him and push him up the long straights to gain on the two leaders. Unbelievably they were fighting over the lead on lap two which was allowing me and the rest of the field to catch up to them. I was amazed at how easy they wanted to make it for everyone to catch them! After 3 laps we had caught the back of them and I decided not to do anything yet as I knew if I took the lead of the race they would all be able to stay with me because of the huge slipstream effect up the main straight. On the last 3 laps I decided to go for it and took the lead. Going into the last lap I was in the lead until Ian Larder and Sam Moore slipstreamed past me. I wasn’t worried as I knew I was quicker through the infield section and if I was within a few yards of the leader I would be able to win the race. I got past Larder at the next corner before pushing Sam Moore up Park straight. But as we turned into Park bend Ian Larder completely lost his head and for whatever reason decided to drive into the side of me and I slid onto the grass and suddenly from being in the best position to win my chances were non existent. I got back on in 5th position and passed number 50 Iles round the long fast right hander before the Gooseneck I was now tucked up behind Larder who had ruined my race as we came up to the mountain section. I out braked him and he decided to turn in on me. We both went flying into the grass and that was his race over too. I didn’t do it on purpose but he got what he deserved.

It was a very disappointing end to a race that showed so much promise. After winning at Stars the previous weekend I was confident that I would take the win at the GP race as well but unfortunately it wasn’t to be as my race was spoiled by another competitor who lost his head. The chassis and engines were great and thanks to AFR for a top engine. I’m next in action at Genk in Belgium for the 6th and 7th round of the BRDC Super ICC Stars championship