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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