
	OPEN ENDURANCE KART CHAMPIONSHIP

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	2007 summer chaMpionship ROUND 4 whilton mill

	RACE REPORT
	Round 4 of the 2007 OEKC Summer Championship was held at Whilton Mill on 10th June. The bright sunny conditions that many of the teams had left their home for was somewhat absent around the Whilton Mill area. It was misty & cold as everyone arrived. Many competitors ruing the idea to come in shorts & t-shirts. To make matters worse the catering team were otherwise engaged so no coffee to warm up with either. The Bilands were back in force for Round 4. Five would line up with a number sporting drive train developments. Two would be running Cush drives and one a novel twin sprocket / chain arrangement. Saxon Motorsport, keen to find the definitive solution of taming all that power & torque for 4.5hrs. The Rotax Max Class would be represented by ten teams, but missing the Championship leaders Red Stripe Racing who would be using this for their dropped round due to other commitments. Practice got underway with the temperature still relatively cool and with no sign that the sun would be breaking through the low cloud soon. The sighting laps gave all the competitors a clear view of what they would be racing on later in the year. The new track extension looks very fast & very interesting. Having switched from a Thunderkart to a Biland over the winter Red Mist Racing showed that they were unlocking the potential of their new kart with a blistering pole time of 39.83 over two tenths faster than the next Biland, Saxon 1 40.09 and four tenths faster than the Rotax of Appliance Maintenance 40.22 The teams formed up on the grid then proceeded round the track for the two formation laps, but Stanion Slicks after the first turn had to dive into the pits, fuel was leaking, resolved with a quick fuel cap change. Axles of Evil in their Max were also having issues that would see them out of the race with just one lap completed. Saxon 1 made a perfect start, sweeping past Red Mist Racing into turn one. Shadow Racers also timing their start to perfection slipped past Ramm Racing through turn two. Appliance Maintenance were keeping the two lead Bilands honest over the first lap and then on the run to Christmas Corner dived past Red Mist to move to second, they had the pace and by Zulu 3 were on the rear bumper of Saxon 1. At Inkermanns on the next lap & they were into the lead. Shadow Racers were also making moves over these early laps and had moved up to third. The field then settled down with Appliance Maintenance unable to extend their slender lead but none of the train of karts behind able to reduce the gap. Just ten seconds covered the first 6 karts With barely twenty minutes gone TT Sport had a huge accident at turn two. Lost in Transit spun in front as TT Sport arrived a full pelt. TT Sport were launched into a barrel roll. Both karts were extensively damaged but fortunately both drivers escaped unscathed apart from the odd bruise. TT Sport would then spend the next hour & half repairing their kart and rejoin. FDM Racing and Stanion Slick were also having mechanical problems. A broken steering rose joint for FDM whilst braking into the fast Christmas Corner meant a lengthy walk back to the pits. Stanion Slicks suffered a snapped chain, which in turn smashed the power valve casing. After lengthy delays to fix the problems with help from the other competitors with both advice & parts both teams rejoined the race deciding to use it now as an extended test session. Box Tech's tyres were gradually coming on song and they were now the Kart on the move. Passing the five Bilands on track and moving to within 3 seconds of Appliance Maintenance by lap 50. The Rotax's of APC Racing, Le Maverick & Red Max Racing were having their own battle a lap adrift of the leaders. Whilst Red Mist had retaken the Biland lead with the top three Bilands covered by just 7 seconds. Over the next 25 laps Appliance Maintenance increased their lead over Box Tech from 2.93 seconds to 2.94 seconds, the racing was very close. Box Tech however appear to have a problem with the exhaust flexing more than usual over the rumble strip onto the start finish straight. With the exhaust causing concern for Box Tech they pitted at the earliest opportunity within the fuel window. Sure enough the carbon fibre exhaust bracket had delaminated with was causing the flexing. A quick change but they had lost ground. This allowed the three chasing Max's of APC Racing, Red Max Racing & Le Maverick to close the gap. At the hour and half point Appliance Maintenance held a commanding 3 lap lead, APC Racing were second with Red Max Racing third. The Bilands were headed by Red Mist Racing. Surprisingly the qualifying pace of the Bilands has disappeared in race trim. The tyres seem not to be working as well for them as the temperature rises. The Rotax's however all seem to be going a bit faster. Appliance Maintenance stop at the Pit exit, the battery holder has failed and dumped the battery somewhere in the final corner, fortunately they carry a spare on the kart but need to secure some ballast to make up the weight, their lead is reduced dramatically. Then just a few laps later its all over, smoke pouring from the engine Appliance Maintenance's engine has blown. After two hours Red Max Racing head the field 36 seconds ahead of Box Tech who are just 2 seconds clear of APC Racing. Red Mist Racing are the leading Biland in fourth just over a lap down Box Tech make a fast second fuel stop only to be called in by the CoC ten laps later, the exhaust is moving around again. This time it's the rubber exhaust mount that has sheared and a complete exhaust change is the quickest cure. Red Mist Racing are also having problems, a front tyre is replaced during their scheduled fuel stop only for it not to go on correctly resulting in a loose wheel whilst out on track. They too lose time and track position making the necessary repairs. At the three hour mark Red Max hold a commanding 3 lap lead over APC Racing, with Ramm Racing moving up to third and being the lead Biland. Le Maverick are fourth. Ramm Racing then suffer a kingpin breakage, something that was to afflict them again in the race and also the Saxon 2 kart. With 4 hours gone Red Max Racing had extended their lead to 4 laps, Box Tech had moved back through the field to second and Le Maverick were third just 4 seconds behind. Saxon 1 were now the leading Biland Red Max Racing knew that the win was theirs if they kept out of trouble over the closing half hour and cruised round enabling the chasing teams to reduce the gap but they took the chequered flag 3 laps ahead of Box Tech with Le Maverick third. Saxon 1 was the first Biland home and fourth overall. After another great days racing Red Max Racing now move to the top of the Overall Championship on 163 points, level with Box Tech but with two wins.Le Maverick move to third whilst Red Mist Racing are the top Biland in fourth. The next round of the championship is at Whilton Mill on July 1st, and the new track extension might be used for the first time then, we look forward to seeing you all there.

Regulations