
	OPEN ENDURANCE KART CHAMPIONSHIP

FORUM


	2008 Summer Championship ROUND 6 Whilton Mill

	RACE REPORT
	The teams arrived to a wet Whilton Mill track and with the weather not looking very predictable and with showers forecast during the day picking the ideal set-up would prove to be impossible. With standing water on track, wets were the only realistic option for practice. The track was drying as the qualifying session began and a dry line began to emerge so a couple of teams venture out to test the conditions. This proved a fruitless task as there was still too much standing water on certain sections to get near a wet shod lap time. First time OEKC participants Semi Skimmed Leighweight in the KKC prepared Max took the Pole in 60.02 Red Mist in the Biland were second 60.40 with CMW third 60.52 Championship leaders Box Tech lying in a lowly 9th struggling to find grip. Red Max failed to set a time due to a throttle problem as did Red Stripe on their return who were having starter motor problems. Fortunately TT Sport were on hand yet again to help a fellow team and got them out for the start of the race. As the karts lined up for the start the rain began to fall and a full wet set up was looking the best choice. The Pole sitters Semi Skimmed unfortunately failed to make the grid and started a lap down. Red Mist took full advantage and swept into the lead followed by CMW. TT Sport had also made a clean start and claimed second on the run down to Ashby. Maintenance were struggling with a poor handling kart, pulling left and not wanting to turn right. After a few laps they pitted to investigate and the culprit was found to be a collapsed kingpin bearing. After a lengthy delay their chance of a good result was gone and the remainder of the day would be used as a test session. Appliance, Red Max and Red Stripe were the teams on the move and by the half hour mark Appliance had moved into first. Red Max had moved from 13th to 4th whilst Red Stripe had gone from last to 6th. After the first round of scheduled pit stops Appliance lead was 42secs from Red Mist. Red Stripe had now moved to third. Stanion Slicks were now the team on the move posting the fastest lap of the race to date with a 59.12 We would soon see them start to climb the leader board. Problems then struck both Appliance & Red Max dropping them down the field. Red Mist on the two-hour mark now had a 1 lap lead over Red Stripe. Stanion Slicks had moved to third with TT Sport moving up to fourth. Box Tech in 6th were still struggling for outright pace in the now damp but drying conditions but were only 20secs off second place. Red Stripe would now suffer a terminal engine failure. From starting last and climbing up to second a cruel blow. The second round of pit stops would prove critical in the outcome of the race. The track was drying fast but was still wet in places. Maintenance were the first to switch to slicks as they had nothing to lose. Now was not the time to change. As teams came in for their second fuel stop they were sticking with wets. Those teams that had stretched both stints to the limit would benefit. Box Tech were one of the last to pit and decided to make the change. After a fright into the first corner then slow exploratory first lap to access the conditions they were soon lapping 3secs quicker than wet pace. At the three-hour mark Box Tech held a 9sec lead over TT Sport with Red Mist a further 10secs back in third. The weather wasn't to take any further part in the result of the race. The sun even showing itself occasionally. At the three & half hour mark trouble then struck TT Sport who having made repairs would eventually be forced to retire. From what originally looked like a damage limitation exercise for Box Tech, they took the win from Red Mist with Stanion Slicks recording their best result of the season in third.

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