Shennington 20th May 2007
After the third round of the Super ICC Stars championship was cancelled we decided to do some more mileage at the Shenington Race meeting just 5 days later.
The meeting was dry all weekend apart from the odd shower and meant I could get some decent testing done and try get a much needed confidence boost by winning. It was never going to easy though with the British champion Sam Moore and a very racy Tom Duggan both competing.
Saturday testing went well with some decent times despite not feeling 100%. By the end of the day the chassis was fine but I was still having some engine problems. My fastest time was a 46.11, which was only a round a tenth off the fastest set that day.
Heat 1 – I started on P4 for the first heat of the day and got away well and immediately powered up to 2nd. But had a big moment at the Bruno Chicane when I locked the front brakes big time. I noticed through out the race that there was no feel in my front brakes and it was hard to stop them from locking so I had to wind about 20% more bias on to the back, it was clear there was a problem. After a few laps acclimatising to the braking I got into a rhythm and started to close down the leader Duggan. By the last 3 laps I was right behind him and managed to squeeze through at Stratford corner. I managed to hang on and take the win.
Heat 2 - I was off the front row for the second heat and managed to get a good start and was straight into the lead but with Sam Moore right behind me. It stayed that way until lap 3 when Moore found away past into the Bruno chicane. The brakes were now working fine now though and I was able to keep with him without pushing to hard. With 2 laps to go I decided to make my move for the lead. Up to first now Duggan had managed to make his way up to 3rd and it was going to be a three-way battle to the flag. Unfortunately I made a fatal error into the last corner and Duggan and Moore managed to take full advantage and I was hung out to dry eventually finishing 3rd.
Heat 3 – Off P8 for the final heat just behind Ian Thomson. I had a shocking start and failed to make any gains into the first bend so decided to have it fully lit into Stratford and launched it round the outside off 2 karts to get myself into the top 6. I was now tucked up behind Ian and managed to squeeze past into café corner and push after the top 4. It wasn’t long before I was behind the Japanese driver Ikuta and managed to get past into the first bend. I was now around 2 seconds off the leading 2 but the kart felt extremely good and I managed to set the fastest lap in the race on my way to catching them but could do no more and had to settle for 3rd in the race and 3rd on the grid for the final.
Final – I knew it was going to be a hard final with some good drivers around me but was fully prepared for the challenge ahead and in a confident mood. I got off the line well and was past Duggan into the first corner and on the back of Sam Moore. My plan was simple stay with Sam until the last few laps and then go for the win. As we went down to Stratford for the first time I decided to take the lead and pulled to the outside of the track and left my braking late to outbreak Moore. I led until the first bend of the 2nd lap where Moore managed to squeeze back past pulling Duggan through with him.
I didn't want to be at the rear at of the front group so quickly disposed of Duggan and set off after Moore. It wasn’t easy to shake Duggan but after a few laps I had managed to create a bit of air between the 2 of us leaving me with only one thing to concentrate on… matching Sam's times. The pace was extremely fast and we were both banging in fastest laps after fastest laps. Lapping with in a tenth of are best each time. One mistake and the race would have been lost I knew I had to keep my focus and just wait for a mistake. Unfortunately he didn’t make any and I had to use everything I had to create an overtaking opportunity.
I snatched my chance with 3 laps to go at Wilkins and held my nerve to take the chequered flag and joint fastest lap with Sam Moore. Duggan also found his form towards the end of the race and managed to post a 45.77 only 0.05 off the 45.71 Sam and me were tied on.
It was an eventful race I was tired afterwards it required a lot of concentration and I though both Sam and Tom drove very well despite the fact that they both mugged me in heat 2. Haha.
Anyway once again the Gillard chassis was perfect and the Maxter engines were great despite a few engine issues and we fully deserved the win.
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