Race Report - Round 1
TITLE FAVOURTES DOMINATE IN
PLAYSCAPE ACADEMY SEASON OPENER.
With a new format involving separate race meetings for the cadet
and junior age groups, the Playscape Academy began the 2008 season
with the favourites taking the lead roles.
CADETS
With a total of 22 qualifying races, the top five qualifiers of
Dylon Phibbs, Shannon Phibbs, Robert Staines, Andre Aguirre Conde
and Gavin Johnson collected a total of 15 wins between them, leaving
not a lot for the rest of the field!
Dylon was beaten just once all morning in a pulsating clash with
Krystan Hacker-Hurnn, when his final assault was thwarted by a
caution light, which disallows overtaking on safety grounds,
flashing on the final corner of Heat 7, whilst his sister Shannon
spun out of Heat 17 but still collected third place in the race.
Staines was beaten only by the Phibbs crew in his heats and was
involved in the race of the day in Heat 20, when he Shannon, Jonas
Moore and Andre Aguirre Conde battled and jockeyed for track
position for the whole race.
The finals are graded according to the driver’s scores on the day
and this gives some of the lesser lights the chance of glory.
The D final was won with ease by Jamie Scott-Brown and with the top
two transferring to the next final onward; it gives the winners an
unlikely chance to progress through the meeting. Jamie dipped out of
the C final in 4th place with Gianluca Tartaro streaking away to an
impressive win. Incredibly Gianluca was to also qualify to the A
final with second place behind winner Jonas Moore from the B final,
where they joined the top 7 qualifiers from the heats.
From the start line Dylon Phibbs jetted away with his sister Shannon
slotting in behind safely in second place with Jonas Moore roaring
around the outside to move into third place on the first lap and
Robert Staines in fourth. As the drivers circumnavigated Streatham
Kart Raceway at a bewildering pace inches apart, Robert dropped off
the pace, leaving Jonas in a lone challenge to the dominance of the
Phibbs siblings.
The presence of Jonas as a threat to Dylon and Shannon probably
robbed the spectators of a race between the two, as Shannon was
content to sit for 2nd rather than challenge for 1st and finish 3rd!
The laps were knocked off metronomically and they finished in the
starting order of Dylon Phibbs, Shannon Phibbs and Jonas Moore.
When asked at trophy presentation if she could have won the race,
Shannon admitted she had the pace to win but ‘He’s my brother’. They
play so nicely together……
L-R: Shannon Phibbs, Dylon Phibbs, Jonas Moore
Final Results:
Pos No
Driver
Best lap
Race Time
1. 1
Dylon Phibbs
24.524
4:09.497
2. 2
Shannon Phibbs
24.516
4:09.575
3. 20
Jonas Moore
24.583
4:10.346
4. 22
Reece Yusuf
24.895
4:13.745
5. 5
Robert Staines
24.792
4:14.409
6. 10
Andre Aguirre Conde
24.644
4:20.714
7. 21
Gavin Johnston
25.647
4:24.187
8. 19
Krystyan Hacker-Hurnn
25.753
4:29.405
9. 18
Gianluca Tartaro
25.495
4:32.025
JUNIORS
A reduced entry of 15 drivers for the higher age category saw the
drivers scrapping for every point with several great races during
the qualifying heats.
2007 champion Matt Ellis was again in form as he topped the score
charts with 33 points, matched by a much improved Andrew RRapo as
they secured the front row of the grid for the A final.
Luke Badiali crashed heavily in one race and needed medical
assistance from the marshal team to continue, but continue he did in
fine fettle to qualify 3rd with 30 points as did Matt Brayne, and
with George Skitini and Nick Walker both ending up with 29 points it
was very close at the top of the race meeting.
The B final saw Tommy Moore, another early race meeting casualty,
and Conor Jux-Chandler work together to leave the others way behind
and Billy Cowan, who had a nightmare day so far, made amends by also
qualifying for the A final.
As the drivers took off around the track for their three lap
warm-up, Matt Ellis looked every inch the winner punching in some
fast lap times and leaving everyone in his wake.
From the standing start, the drama was to come from the smallest
driver in the field, George Skitini. Trying to make the best of his
power to weight ratio advantage he burrowed into the front row from
the start, but agonizingly got trapped against the tyre wall as the
rest of the field drove past.
Andy RRapo was soon displaced for 2nd place by the fast starting
Nick Walker, himself a former Cadet and Junior Champion, and he gave
determined chase to a predictably serene Matt Ellis at the front.
With 3 laps to go, Billy Cowan’s luck changed for the worst again,
crashing out and getting started again right under the wheels of the
race leader. With no blue flag signal rule in place, Matt had all
the problems in the race now.
3 laps to go. Billy right in front of him having an ‘erratic’ day,
his great rival Nick gaining on him by about 4 kart lengths every
lap from behind, could his temperament and judgement deliver the
first win of 2008?
His decision was to sit BEHIND Billy, and try to keep the gap
between himself and Nick constant. Nick sensed what Matt’s thoughts
were and began to push even harder to close the gap up.
However, at the end of the 10 laps, Matt Ellis had done enough to
win by just 2 kart lengths and carry the chequered flag around the
circuit for the traditional victory parade lap.
L-R: Nick Walker, Matt Ellis, Anduen RRapo
Final Results:
Pos No
Driver
Best Lap Race
Time
1. 4
Matt Ellis
25.218
4:15.524
2. 1
Nick Walker
25.099
4:15.952
3. 3
Anduen RRapo
25.596
4:19.719
4. 10
Luke Badiali
25.515
4:21.910
5. 8
Matt Brayne
25.559
4:23.094
6. 11
Conor Jux Chandler
25.147
4:27.844
7. 6
Jack Peters
26.059
4:29.247
8. 9
Tommy Moore
25.087
4:30.469
9 2
George Skitini
25.537
4:32.743
10. 14
Billy Cowan
25.277
4:42.008
Forthcoming Events:
7th January Tuition Evening
21st January Tuition Evening
2nd February Champions Academy
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