May 3rd 2009 Round 3 FEKC Club Championship
May’s Round 3 meeting welcomed the NKRA and the O Plates for Comer and WTP, with some high jinks and festivities on Saturday evening, Sunday with 200 drivers promised to deliver racing of the highest quality!
B finals were needed for both the Club cadets and Minimax, with most grid sizes approaching track capacity there was close and fierce racing in all classes.
Senior TKM was the first A final out and continues to thrive in numbers to produce close tight racing, Matthew Cardwell on pole from Dan Bushell both got great starts to push each other the whole race, toward the end Cardwell just eked a few kart lengths gap for a great win from Bushell, Paul Von Gerard definitely had the pace but had to settle for third after initial early scuffles. With six novices the class seems revived,1st across the line was Martin Kirby.
Junior Max saw a restart required, which took the form of single file F1 type safety car style and Michael Cheek, the polesitter took full advantage to make a break from the pack for what looked odds on lights to flag victory. Zak Price, Owen Hunter and Levi Coombs had other ideas and set after Cheek, Price came through from ninth place and in the closing laps closed right up on Cheek after making his way past both Hunter and Coombs. Laps ebbed away, time ran out for Price leaving Cheek to take a fine win from Price, with Hunter taking the final podium by a whisker from Coombs.
A full grid of Rotax saw a first corner incident leaving many karts to make recovery drives, Paul Janes from pole missed all the action behind to take full advantage and notched up a fine lights to flag victory. Jonathan Drabble clinched second place and fastest lap after having to slow for the first corner skirmish which pretty much determined his race, Chris Gibbs took third from Barry Thomsit.
A mixed grid of 177 and Masters provided some tight racing amongst the similar paced drivers. Poleman Gary Parsons took a great win from Martin Gadd and Gareth Hardy with the final podium. Charlie Watson finished fourth on track and first Masters home.
A large grid of Formula Blue saw Craig Copeland on pole produce a masterful display to drive away from everyone through to the Chequered flag, second placed man Jamie Rush did everything he could to keep on terms and produced a fine drive to keep second from Copeland, Chris Derrick this month had to settle for the final podium.
The libre grid of cadets saw the first six grid going to the Hondas, but the major action came from Jordan Gilbertson’s Comer having to start from 27th and David Wright’s WTP from 11, both youngsters made many places early on to get through the field, Wright threw a chain on lap 8 whilst in 3rd overall. Gilbertson faired much better with arguably the drive of the day to take first place overall overtaking faultlessly at every opportunity. Simon Carr, Honda shod on pole maintained the Honda first place by the slimmest of margins from Charlie Harris and Jason Duffett. Myles Potter inherited first place in the WTP class after Wright’s technical DNF, Marcus Boyd took second. Sam Stansbury’s Comer was second place with a long day like Gilbertson continuing their club Championship and the O plate, many of the youngsters doing both slept well Sunday night ? Matteo Zanetti, took the final podium slot in Comer.
Last race of the day Minimax, was also the biggest grid of the day needing a B final and produced the closest of racing. Kieron Gifford on pole got a great start from Macaulay Austin and the young pair just edged away from another battling pair of Matt Duffett and Piers Hickin, all four recently graduated from Cadets. The front pair pushed on with Gifford in front for the whole race and looking assured of the win, last lap, last corner Austin timed to perfection a move that caught Gifford unaware allowing Austin to take a great win in the class field. Behind them Hickin and Duffett were engaged in a similar battle, Duffett showed his hand half way through the race taking Hickin at “Midgetts” only for Hickin to cut inside at the very next corner, “Climate”. Hickin knowing where Duffett was strong held a tight line into Midgetts for the remaining laps until the final lap with Duffett getting a perfect run through Bus Stop to move inside Hickin and kept his head for the final 300 metres to take third place, Hickin fourth.
A great weekend finished, a successful O plate and lots of happy faces left the Hampshire track ready for round 4 which will be on the 17th May, watch out for the prestiduous Southern Championship 2 day event in June with many prizes from the likes of Brawn Grand Prix and Williams!