
	OPEN ENDURANCE KART CHAMPIONSHIP

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	2008 Summer Championship ROUND 5 Daytona MK

	RACE REPORT
	With a forecast of showers during the day with warm sunny periods the 5th round of the OEKC at Daytona Milton Keynes had the potential to make life difficult for the teams. Light rain during the early morning had left the track damp and with rain clouds in the air the correct choice of set-up would be as important as ever. Used wets would probably of been the fastest tyre choice for practice but with the high ambient temperature and a clearly drying track all the teams decided on slicks. Times were soon tumbling and just before qualifying began Maintenance (71) decided on a slight chassis adjustment to make the most of the greasy conditions. This proved an inspired choice as they took the pole (61.306) by 7/10ths from Box Tech (40). The Litigators (12) running their French spec outfit in preparation for the Le Mans 24hr took 3rd. As the teams fuelled-up for the start of the race Red Mist Racing (88) discovered that their tank had split and they now had a race to find not only a spare tank but also fit it and get out onto the grid. Fortunately Box Tech had a spare and between the two teams the Biland was ready & raring to go for the start. Disaster then struck TT Sport (34) on the warm up lap the engine died half way along the main straight. After a long and exhausting push back to the pits a faulty battery was diagnosed and replaced, unfortunately this cost them 2 laps. Maintenance made a clean start and started to pull away from second placed Box Tech. The Litigators were however the fastest kart on track utilizing their superior braking power courtesy of their French spec front brakes. CJ Davies (22) & their TKM were also making moves through the field with a kart that excelled in the tighter nature of the Daytona track, moving up from 11th to 8th in the opening laps. Within 5 laps The Litigators had taken the lead & with a half second advantage per lap started to stretch their lead from Maintenance. The weather then decided to intervene to add to the excitement. Light rain started on lap 10 but then on lap 13 a heavy shower hit. With karts struggling for any grip everyone had moments. Red Mist probably the biggest, losing the kart at the top of the main straight and going backwards into the tyre barrier. An unscheduled stop would be required to pull the rear bumper off the tyre. The Litigators were the only team to decide to pit for wets. With signs of some patches of blue sky in the distance everyone else decided to tentatively continue of slicks. Box Tech seems to have the measure of the conditions and were now leading. CJ Davies had threaded their way through the rain and ran as high as 3rd. Within 15minutes the track was dry again and the lap times had tumbled and Maintenance began their chase of the lead. Appliance (70), Boxed In (4) & Red Max (95) had also moved through the field from their starting positions to be 5th, 4th & 3rd. At the hour mark Box Tech held a 1.75sec lead over Maintenance, with Red Max 3rd a lap down. After the first round of pit stops had been completed Box Tech had stretched their lead to 20secs but this would be short lived. Stanion Slicks (81) suffered a terminal breakdown after an hour & half. To add to their frustration Herbie the recovery kart also had an issue so a long trip to the bottom of the track with their trolley was required. With a full course yellow out and the field bunching back up Maintenance reduced the gap back to under 1sec. KKC decided to take advantage of this prolonged full course yellow and headed to the pits to refuel. As Maintenance peeled into the pits for their second fuel stop Box Tech's lead was just 0.392 secs. 5 laps later Box Tech pitted but would return to the track 19.368 behind. Maintenance were now reeling off a string of fastest laps, culminating on lap 162 with a 60.199. With the fastest Max out on track they weren't to be challenged again. Red Mist after their incident had been steadily making their way through the field and had moved up to 3rd. The main battle out on track was now between Appliance & Boxed In. At the three hour mark Appliance had a 44sec lead but Boxed In where on a charge. Over the next 30 minutes Boxed In would reduce the gap and on lap 194 take the position. Appliance weren't giving up though and after the final round of fuel stops had retaken the position. Boxed In began the chase all over again and with less than thirty minute remaining overtook only for Appliance to regain the position 4 laps later. With their first OEKC win in sight Maintenance were now counting down the laps & the minutes. With Jon doing the final stint James showed 10 fingers to indicate 10 minutes left, the Appliance boys however decided to have some fun and also showed an additional 5 fingers. Jon thinking he was tight on fuel reduced his pace but with a comfortable lead this wasn't a problem. As the chequered flag fell Maintenance took the win with 256 laps, Box Tech were a lap down with Red Mist in the Biland 3rd. The next round of the Championship is 7th September at Whilton Mill. Please email Chris chris@whiltonmill.co.uk to confirm your attendance.

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