Date 22nd May 2009
Event Super1 Round 3 First Practise
This weekend had to be a good one with no errors. I needed a big haul of points to
get back into contention for the championship. From the first session of practise,
for this weekend, we also had brand new sticker kits from Tal-
In practise I made my intentions known that I wanted to win, setting fastest times
in virtually every session around one of my favourite tracks. Max got the fastest
time of the day, but all three of us in the Tal-
Date 23rd -
Event Super1 Round 3 Second Practise and raceday
Saturday was more of the same. I did set the best time of the day and in all sessions but one I was quickest. A 41.16 was the best I did all day, a tenth quicker than Will and Max, who were the next quickest.
Heat 1, started 7th, I had to be cautious to finish well and not get caught up in trouble. I got up to 5th behind Max as we were catching the leaders but ran out of laps for us to catch 3rd as we started to battle a bit. Will won the heat, with Max and me 4th and 5th. I set the joint fastest time with Luke Rosewell, a 41.26
Heat 2, started 7th again. I was first bumped down at the start to 10th and had to fight back up the field, setting a 41.12 on my way to 4th place. Max was 2nd , Will unfortunately was given a 1 lap penalty for a bit of contact when a driver cut him up.
Heat 3 I started 2nd and knew I had to win, so I passed the leader on lap 3 and pulled out a 2 second lead on the rest of the field, winning the heat ahead of Max in 2nd, Will came in 4th setting the fastest lap.
Heat 4 I started 12th and knew I had to beat Luke and Max for pole. I had an aggressive start up to 8th, then started to really charge through the field, passing nearly on every corner. I took 2nd on the last lap and ended up only 0.5 behind the winner Luke despite having to start from so far back. I was quickest on the track setting a 41.09. Max was 4th, Will was 6th after a hard battle. The heats gave Luke pole, Max and me were joint on points but he got 2nd on the grid after beating me in heat 1, I started 3rd with Will 6th after his penalty.
In the Final, I knew I could win if I got clear so I went for it off the start, passing
Max, on lap 2 I lunged Luke down the hill, he didn’t want to give and we touched,
sending me over the second kerb, with Max pushing through, I took Luke down the straight
and Max also forced his way through as we got to 1st and 2nd. From then on we pulled
well away from the rest of the field, setting identical laps each lap. I never felt
pressure like it, looking behind seeing Max only 3 kart lengths behind each lap.
I got a bit of breathing space when all our tyres began to fade and won my first
British Championship event, I couldn't believe it, it was the hardest race of my
life, 22 laps seemed an eternity. We had a team 1,2,3 in the Final at last with Will
coming home 3rd after battling through the field. Me or Max could’ve easily won,
it was so close. Only 0.6 at the line. That win helped my points massively and I
still have a chance to win the Championship, but it is going to be tough to beat
Will and Max. Photos Courtesy of Chris Walker -
