News 11-TKC June 1

2013 TKC Honda Cadet Championship - new players

Setup test on the Saturday provide interesting data

Saturday practice took place in stable weather conditions which allowed us to try some different chassis setups.

Lucas was in teh groove from the 1st session and posted some very respectable times. Following several chassis setup changes we were managing to shave off the 10ths and bring the times down but as usual as the afternoon wore on the times started to go away again so we called time on testing at 16:00 and prepared the kart for race day.

Sunday arrived and we felt confident in our setup and Lucas was driving well so we were looking forward to a good meeting.........

Heat 1

The draws for the Heats were not the best with 7th, 2nd & 8th out of 12 so Lucas was going to have to work if he was looking to get a front row start in teh Final.

With the main competition in P1 & P3 Lucas would have to push form the outset.....The lights went out and the race was on, Lucas slotted into P7 around T1 & T2 and pushed for the lond run around T3. On the run into the apex the kart in front braked as there was a slower kart in front that braked and left Lucas nowhere to go and unfortunately he nudged him, sending the kart in front off to the right. Lucas managed to keep his kart on track and powered past P5 around the outside of T4, the fastest on the circuit.

Through the infield Lucas made up ground on the P3 runner, one of his main competition and by T2 on the 2nd lap he was on their bumper. The driver was driving very defensively and shutting the door every time Lucas tried to find a way past.

Lucas tried different lines to pass but could not so dropped back slightly to get ready for a final push on the last lap.

He closed on the rivals bumper and stuck to is as he had seen that they were closing on backmarkers. They passed the 1st through T8 and time was running out. The group had completely closed up with the 1st four karts nose to tail behind a novice, P1 driver gets past between T10 & T11 and then P2 & P3 drivers get held up into T11 by the novice, Lucas sees this and pushes up the inside across the apex and takes the P4 driver then out drags the P3 driver to the line to finish second!

A fantastic drive and a great show of composure to keep on the pressure and not to try to force a pass.

Heat 2

Starting from P2 this was going to be our best chance of a win in the heats. The lights go out and the race is on.

Down the straight Lucas gets past the P2 runner and instantly setlles down into his groove to try and gap the field. Gradually he starts to stretch out a lead which he maintains at 6-8 kart lengths until he takes the flag 8 laps later, the day is looking promising.

Heat 3

This heat was likely to be the hardest of the day with Lucas starting from P8 but following his drive in heat 1 we were hopeful he could repeat the performance.

They are off and Lucas passes P7-P5 down the straight into the Hairpin at T1, right on the bumper of P4 he pushes hard and P4 gets his line in to T3 wrong, takes too much kerb and looses drive allowing Lucas to power past into T4. Entering the infield in P3 things are looking good. Lucas closes down in the P2 driver who tries to force a pass exiting T11 and ends up spinning putting Lucas into P2.

The hunt for P1 is on and Lucas catches the P1 driver as they enter T2 where Lucasholds the throttle flat and drives around the outside.

Over the next few laps Lucas seemed to decide that he wanted to make a point and instead of gapping the pack and holding at 8 lengths he pushes for the remainder of the laps to win by a comfortable margin and secure Pole for the Final.

Final

Pole start in the final could not have been better and we were feeling reasonably confident that we should reach the podium and should get a win if the race goes to plan and we don't get 'involved' in anything at the start.

Jake Boydell was in P2, one of our main competition and a regular at Red Lodge with Lucas' other main competition in P4.

Lucas led the warm up are a quick pace, not fast but as we know he likes a faster run into the start. Light go out and we are racing.

Lucas powers down the straight and he must have been confident as he relinquished his protected inside line to take the fastest route through. He keeps flat out arount T2 & T3 building up a couple of kart length gap and then stretches this on the infield to about 4 lengths.

Over the next few laps Lucas increases his lead to 6-8 lengths and manages pursuing pack to ensure that he maintainss the buffer until he takes the flag.

With a Vettel trademark finger he drives the warmdown lap and into the pits.

A great performance by Lucas and a fun day as well.

next....TKC June 2nd Meeting on the 30th June (Taking the place of the cancelled July Meeting).