Kart Coach News

Shenington (15/16 May)

 

Tom Wood (Comer Cadet):

Tom put in three stellar performances in the heats (3rd 7th 7th) and was rewarded with grid 6 for the final, an amazing result considering he has only done a handful of races on full plates!

Tom felt he was almost in touching distance of one of the smaller trophies, was this going to be his day? Unfortunately he got muscled down to 8th at the start but was controlling a group of five karts behind him when he got pushed very wide at Wilkins losing several places when his pursuer went for an invisible gap. As ever he fought back gamely putting in a personal best lap on the way to 15th place. This wasn't the result he was hoping for but you can't keep a good driver down and it won't be long before Tom gets the results his undoubted talent deserves.

 

 

Connor Gibbs (Junior Rotax):

A fabulous performance in the first heat proved to be a false omen as Connor was promptly taken out in heats two and three resulting in heavy expensive damage on both occasions.

The Kart Coach team made a supreme effort to get him out for the final and Connor realised he would have to come up with something special if he was ever to see his dad smile again!

Thankfully he rewarded everyone with a fighting drive from the back of the grid and a thoroughly deserved 18th place.

 

 

Whilton Mill (22/23 May)

 

Connor Gibbs (Junior Rotax):

Amazzzingly hot weather!

Intensive tweaking of Connors kart during Saturday testing put him pretty near the pace for Race day. Heat one. Started p4 but was literally bumped down the order in the opening lap, however his prodigious speed soon brought him back into contention and by mid distance he took the lead. Heading into the boot for the final time, a couple of lengths clear and under a WAVED YELLOW victory seemed a mere formality, unfortunately he was pushed wide and back into third place which he held to the line, sometimes there's no justice.

Black flagged in the second heat for a trailing bumper, probably as a result of contact in the first heat wasn't helping things

The third heat was a little better and he came home a respectable 13th

This put him on Grid 14 for the final. Connor drove an excellent race but having got bottled up behind a slower kart early in the race was unable to exploit his full potential, nevertheless a personal best of 9th is a great result on this his first anniversary with Kart Coach. A fitting end to a great weekend, and never more than a couple of tenths off the fastest lap all day, Connor is almost within touching distance of a trophy.

This is all quite an achievement bearing in mind Connor only started in the sport twelve months ago when he came home a fighting last at this circuit and more than three seconds off the pace!

 

 

Tom Wood (Comer Cadet):

Excellent drives in heats one and two rewarded Tom with 10th and 12th places, just one second away from the quickest drivers, however a DNF due to carburettor problems brought him down to earth with a bump!

A brilliant start in the final got him into the top ten only to slip slowly down the order to 18th as the curse of the Tryton struck again! Tom won't be satisfied until he gets his hands on a trophy so this temporary disappointment will only harden his resolve. It is sooo frustrating to be let down by your equipment but we know the intrepid Tom will bounce back stronger than ever next month.

 

 

 

Alok Iyengar (Senior Rotax):

Our favourite Indian driver steadily improved throughout the weekend, consistently beating his personal best and demonstrating that being a cricket all rounder isn't his only talent whilst shrugging off the sweltering tropical conditions.

Alok has some real pace but this gradually fades as the laps unfold due to a lack of fitness in his upper body. This was particularly noticeable in the final where after a blistering start he really struggled to keep his concentration. However Alok was determined finish the race and this he did in style coming home a well earned 15th an excellent result for a novice. So it's back to the gym for him and we expect to find him fighting fit for the next round.