OPEN ENDURANCE KART CHAMPIONSHIP


	ROUND 2

	RACE REPORT
	Round two of the Whilton Mill Open Endurance Championship opened with sunshine, although the wind was quite strong. This weather lasted all day. With teams travelling from as far a field as Aberystwyth and Poole, 15 teams attended, and once again the ThunderKart class was the most supported with 7 teams. The Senior Max class had 3 teams (Box Tech and LE Maverick having swapped to this class). The series also saw the first arrival of the new Subaru WRK engined karts, with 3 teams entering. The open class had both a TKM 4/ and an Eco Motor. With a busy half hour practice for most teams, it looked set to be an exciting race. As the qualifying started, the Senior Max teams really picked up the pace, and they took 3 of the top 4 grid slots, with G+W Racing on pole Box Tech in 2nd and the TKM 4/ of WGS Racing just stealing 3rd. After a short gap to refuel the kart, all 15 teams made the grid. With teams chomping at the bit, the karts were sent out on their rolling lap. A perfect formation saw a perfect start, and all teams made it through the first corner with little or no contact. G+W Racing once again started the race showing their pace in the Senior Max Class by immediately lapping in the 39-second bracket, almost matching their qualifying time. They were closely chased by Box Tech who, on the Kartline tyre were lapping in the high 40-second bracket. LE Maverick were running in the 41 second bracket having taken 3rd place at the start, with WGS setting almost identical times in 4th. The lead ThunderKart at this point was Cannonball, with Team Slick just behind them. The WRK teams battling amongst themselves, with Subaru 2 taking the class lead from Subaru 1 in second, and Subaru 3chasing them. In the Open Class, WGS Racing were 4th overall, with Sonic in the Ecomotor in 7th place. For the second race running, G+W Racing were the first team to pit for fuel, having completed 70 laps in the first 50 minutes of the race. Their lead was 2 laps at this point, and the stop dropped them to 4th place. This promoted Box Tech, LE Maverick, and WGS in the TKM 4/ to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively. It did, however, keep G+W ahead of the lead ThunderKart who were 1 lap behind. With the other Senior Max Teams having to stop for fuel very shortly after, and the TKM not being quite on the pace of the Senior Max teams, G+W Racing retook the lead in less than 15 minutes. At the 1.5-hour mark, 2 of the 3 senior max teams had minor problems causing them to drop down the field. G+W Racing however, having a good race, held a 3-lap lead over 2nd place ThunderKart team Cannonball. At the half way mark, G+W had extended their lead to 6 laps, but their fuel consumption, with stops every 45 minutes meant that they still had to keep pushing. The ThunderKarts, with a 1.5-hour range, still had a chance at victory, as did second place WGS Racing in the TKM 4/. With excellent driving standards from all, the mid race settled into a steady rhythm and none of the teams had any major dramas. With 2/3rd s of the race gone, G+W Racing held a 6-lap lead over WGS Racing, who in turn was 2 laps ahead of third place Blue Thunder. Subaru 2 held the WRK lead. As the teams entered the final hour of the race, G+W still held the overall lead, with Team Slick in 2nd place, who were now just 4 laps behind. With the ThunderKart not having to make any further stops for fuel, and the Senior Max having to make at least one, the final result was still not a certainty. As the race entered the final half hour, G+W Racing had what looked like a convincing 7 lap lead. They still, however, had to make a final fuel stop. After this stop, their lead was reduced to 4 laps, with just 16 minutes of the race remaining. Team Slick, in 2nd place could only hope for a drama for G+W Racing, and with just half an hour to go, the lead kart returned to the pit lane. Team Slick could only look on and hope that the stop would last longer than 1.5 minutes, giving them the lead. G+W, however, made a quick driver change, and left the pits with a 2-lap advantage. One of their drivers had taken a small knock, and could not continue. As the chequered flag fell, G+W Racing took their first overall victory in the championship, with Team Slick in second place 3 laps behind. After 4.5 hours of racing, their lead over 3rd place Cannonball was just 15 seconds. A jump from 10 karts at Round 1 to 15 at Round 2 is very promising for the championship. With Piranha Bros missing round 2, and with the WRK grid looking to expand, we hope for a grid of just under 20 karts for Round 3. A grid of over 20 would be excellent for the final 2 rounds would give the championship solid footings for next year. With the support of the existing teams, their commitment will help us help the championship grow. The next round will take place at Whilton Mill on June 19th, and we look forward to seeing you then. Andrew Hornsey Whilton Mill Open Endurance Championship

Regulations