Race Report - Round 4

THE CARL AND CONOR SHOW

CADETS

Due to a few family holidays and some illness the cadet grid was smaller than expected with 22 drivers, when will people learn about priorities I wonder…….
 
None the less, the action came thick and fast as the familiar figure of Robert Staines set the pace during the early part of the qualifying heats. Robert won heat 1 with a fastest lap that stayed unchallenged until heat 9, an achievement on cold tyres and on a cold circuit.
 
However, by the time we reached the third round of heats, Andre Aguirre Conde had matched Robert’s points score with James Beumee just behind, so the last set of qualifying races were to determine the grid for the final.
 
The grid lined up with Andre on pole, Robert on 2 and James on 3 with Karl Stevens on grid 4 on the same points as James. It was noted with some interest that James had broken the track record during training so it remains an unofficial time, but the outcome of the race was in the balance to say the least.
 
What followed was unexpected surely…..
 
As Andre controlled the start of the race, Robert attempted to slot in behind and was under pressure from the rest of the 10 kart grid. As they fought tooth and nail around the circuit Robert was eventually trapped against the tyre wall on the outside of Casualty hairpin on lap 2 and dropped back to 9th position and out of the race.
 
Meanwhile at the front, Andre Aguirre Conde had moved away from the chasing pack with Carl Stevens and Gianluca Tartaro in tow and on lap 7, Carl made his move and slipped past the long time race leader with Giancarlo also moving up.
 
As the last lap began, Giancarlo was beginning to really exert some pressure on Carl and as they exited Howler Hairpin, his pace brought him closer to the leader than ever before.
 
Clash.
 
At Casualty Hairpin (so why is it called that anyway??).
 
Exiting the hairpin, Giancarlo had the pace to outdrag Carl to the next corner as Andre appeared ready to strike. Last lap. Again. As the top three raced neck and neck for the line the diminutive figure of Giancarlo Tartaro was the first across the line followed by Carl Stevens and Andre Aguirre Conde, but the drama was still to come.
 
Following a post race enquiry into THAT move at Casualty, Giancarlo was penalized one place for Advantage By Contact and the win therefore went to Carl Stevens with Giancarlo now 2nd and Andre 3rd.


L-R Gainluca Tartaro, Carl Stevens, Andre Aguirre Conde

Cadet Final Results
 
Pos      No        Driver                                      Best Lap          Race Time

1          5          Carl Stevens                             24.666              4:12.716
2          7          Gainluca Tartaro                       24.524              4:12.974
3          14        Andre Aguirre   Conde               24.710              4:13.144
4          15        James Beumee                         24.384              4:13.487
5          21         Krystyan Hacker Hurnn             24.853              4:16.882
6          8          Harrison Collins                         24.807              4:17.069
7          1          Red Carter                                24.915              4:17.490
8          19         Imran Qadri                              25.282              4.26.057
9          12         Robert Staines                         24.850              4:30.541
10         20        Ryan Rrapo                              25.888              4:34.431

 

JUNIORS

An identical entry of 22 drivers for the junior section, but these boys have a much smaller spread of ability, they are all experts!!
 
None more so than old adversaries Nick Walker and Conor Jux Chandler, who were to be early pace setters in the heats with Matt Ellis unfortunate to be mixed up in a really silly crash in his first heat. By the time we had reached the end of qualifying, Nick had been black flagged for driving the wrong way around the circuit after another silly crash although it must be stressed he only did so in an effort to turn around quicker to face the right way.
 
Prajesh Shah had been consistent and very quick as he produced the fastest lap in qualifying to take grid 2 behind Conor, with Nick on 3 and Matt on 4.
 
There were other notable performances as well with Billy Cowan taking 4 2nds and I 3rd during the heats, Kieran Efemini-Batchelor qualifying from the B final for his first A final appearance, but how about Aimee Bush.
 
Our only lady driver finished last in qualifying and came from the back of the C Final to win it on the last lap. She then produced the party piece again in the B Final to finish second and line up on grid 9 for the A Final. Obviously does not do mornings…….
 
The A Final early laps were all about Nick Walker. Conor Jux Chandler shot from the box to take an early lead, whilst Nick battled with the rest of the field and an ailing kart, ensuring Conor had a substantial lead when the pack eventually and inevitably surged past Nick.
 
After 5 laps, Luke Badiali had emerged as the driver most likely to challenge Conor in 2nd place with a battle royale for 3rd taking place between Prajesh Shah and Matt Ellis.
 
To deal with 3rd place first, Prajesh attempted to stop the kart on every apex and defend for the last half of the race and again inevitably Matt Ellis was able to pinch the position from him with a couple of laps to go to land a valuable 3rd place for the second race meeting in a row.
 
Meanwhile at the front Luke was going faster and faster, arrowing in on the back of Conor and going faster than he had ever been before in his racing career. With 3 laps to go, he was right on the back bumper of Conor.
 
3 laps to go. 3 laps of pulsating effort. 3 laps of KNOWING the driver behind you is quicker and, if he slips past, will leave you for dead. 3 laps of complete concentration and the will to win.
On every corner Conor had to think about his entry position and exit speed. On every straight Conor had to know where the challenge was coming from as Luke pressed him ever harder. BUT HE DID IT.
 
His victory in round 2 must have given him the boost in confidence and to hold on against such immense pressure shows an increasing maturity in the race craft of Conor Jux Chandler as he took the win from a delighted Luke Badiali with Matt Ellis a distant third place.


L-R Luke Badiali, Conor Jux Chandler, Matt Ellis

Junior Final Results
 
Pos       No        Driver                                       Best Lap           Race Time

1          12         Conor Jux Chandler                   24.329              4:08.141
2          16         Luke Badiali                              23.760              4:09.342
3          7           Matt Ellis                                  23.993              4:11.002
4          14         Prajesh Shah                            24.409              4:14.959           
5          20         Nick Walker                              24.992              4:17.040
6          9           George Skitini                           24.696              4:17.853
7          10         Aimee Bush                              24.685              4:20.122
8          3           Kieran Efemini-Batchelor           24.765              4:20.634
9          6           Billy Cowen                              25.230              4:21.269
10        18          Daniel Wright                            24.595              4:26.260           

 

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