Race Report - 1st round of TVKC

Race report from the 1st round of the Trent Valley Kart Club (TVKC) Club championship

Following on from the O plate, H was keen to get back in the kart and build upon the momentum from Whilton Mill.

The forecast was dry weather, which was good news as H and Dave could get further much needed set up testing done.

Practice went well, H finding more pace each time and getting the kart to nice balance.

We elected to carry out timed Qualifying as they run it in the British Champs, using brand new rubber for the session. However, a good number of drivers scrubbed in the new tyres in the Simulation TQ

This disparity of tyres Hurt H. Gridded 3rd on the dummy grid, as he left and started to warm his tyres, he was swamped with drivers with scrubbed rubber.

In a 5-minute session, his first few laps were spent trying to get clear of other Karts. Hence our 3-lap average was poor, and we started 18th

Despite this there were some useful positives to take from the day, we just need to be able to qualify better. The one clear lap was much more representative of where H could be. So the pace was good overall

Race day and the track got grippy.

We as a team got caught out by this, using old tyres for warm up cost us, as H did not really feal any issues with the Kart

A bad start was compounded by the fact that, the Kart would just not release from a corner and the speed was lacking, Overall H finished 17th

Heat 2, with several significant set up changes, H made a better start, but H took a little while to get to grips with the Kart’s handling, so fell back. Once he had the Kart under him, H went on the attack climbing up several places. H went for a late but hard move, the other driver defended hard but fair, but the result was H on 1 wheel, almost rolling over the other driver. The places H had made were lost, as he recovered from “moment”. We were all glad Dave had done such a good job of cleaning the kart, as the underside was mint, while it was on view to everybody at the Track, Driver was unconcerned and kart was fine. So all good. End result 19th place

So two eventful heats, frustrating as H had the clear pace and ability to be much further up the grid, but we just got stuck where we were.

Final was sadly more of the same, a poor start, and then racing drivers desperate to retain 22nd or so place meant it was a tough day, as the mid and leading packs drew further and further away. H made progress, but it was slowed by all the fighting and defensive driving.

The final result not really indicative of the pace, but when you qualify badly and then have awful starts, it will make the short races very tough to deal with.

However, a lot to take forward for this weekend at Kimbolton. H needs to work on new rubber pace and his starts, but other areas have become a lot stronger for sure.

Huge thanks to Klaassen motorsport for all the support.

Thank.you to all our partners

Starlaneuk Stu Stretton Media Eighty Eight Digital Ltd  Central Mailing Services Delta Racewear Red Graphix 

Big thanks lastly to all the team and Marshals at PFI.