Monday 22-05-2023 - 12:39

UWTSD Karting: The Final Clause Clay Pigeon BUKC Round 4

The final round of the BUKC championship had arrived at Clay Pigeon Raceway which was a new circuit for everyone in the team. The high-speed circuit excited the team. The morning fog created an eerie atmosphere but the forecast suggested a dry circuit which was a change to how the rest of the season had been.

Qualifying

Matt P2 

Matt set the early pace in practice getting his eye in at the circuit. Having lots of fun at the high speed track. Qualifying was messy with constant yellow flags through several corners. 

Will P5

Will showed promise putting himself into a good qualifying position for the race with the hopes of achieving a solid result in the race. 

Aeddan P24

Aeddan was finally given a dry circuit to qualify on. Learning the circuit he qualified a respectable P24 ready for the race ahead. 

Alfie P30

Alfie has had the least experience in the club 100 karts out of the team but showed promise in his lap times getting to grip with the circuit qualifying P30. 

Races 

Matt P10

Matt made a wonderful move around the outside of the pole sitter into turn 1 to take the early lead creating a solid gap for the first quarter of the race. Slowly he was caught with his kart lacking the top speed of the others where he resided in P3 all race until the final lap getting taken out by a back marker making a silly overtake putting him out on the grass. Having to recover the kart finishing a disappointing P14 but P10 after penalties were applied. A very unfortunate end to what could have been a great result for the team.  

Will P3 

Will had a great start gaining a place putting himself into 4th. Will had a solid battle all race keeping his nose clean, fighting for P5 finishing P6 on track. After penalties, Will achieved a fantastic result of P3 which was his best finish yet and a great result to show his improvements over the season. 

Aeddan P16 

Aeddan had a great race making several positions in the opening laps. Aeddan progressed through the field continuing a tough battle for P24 all race long. He managed to secure P24 which led him to achieve P16 after penalties. 

Alfie P15

Alfie had a good race battling throughout making up places and finishing in a great race position competing in his first proper race. Alfie managed to secure P23 on track after a hard-fought battle all race long obtaining P15 after penalties. 

Generally a solid result for the team with some of the team getting their personal best results. Overall a mixed round and it was a question of what could have been. If Matt was not taken out the team would have achieved a top-10 finish for the round. Unfortunately due to the take out, the team finished P18 for the round.

This resulted in the team finishing P16 overall in the championship which is a great result for a new team. 

All of the team has had a great experience over the course of the season and look forward to what next year brings! With the hopes of entering an additional team into the BUKC. 

 

Bonus: Drivers Champs

The heavens had opened for the following day at the BUKC Drivers Championship where all of the best karters of the championship battle it out to be crowned the champion of champions with even previous BUKC royalty returning in the efforts to claim the title. 

Heat 1

Matt started P10 moving up to P4 into turn 1 passing 6 karts up the inside. Unfortunately, he was taken out into the hairpin by someone who locked up in the wet conditions. Matt set some blistering lap times setting and holding the fastest lap for the majority of the race. 

An unfortunate end to his first heat finishing P11 after a good recovery achieving P8 after penalties 

Heat 4

Starting P23 Matt was in the pack dropping back after turn 1 carnage. After some good pace he managed to make his way through the pack to finish P10 on track getting P8 overall. 

After completing his two heats Matt started P8 in the A final. 

LW A Final 

Matt had a great first start jumping into 4th position until the race got restarted due to a crash further back. Matt still made up places at the restart but drew the short straw with his kart really struggling for straight line pace. Matt was able to catch everyone in the corners but struggled in a straight line. Matt was bullied and shunted off track on several occasions forcing him to the back of the field finishing an unfortunate P24. Unfortunately, the results didn’t reflect Matt's true pace and performance over the weekend however his speed and overtakes during the races did show great signs of promise proving himself against the best of the best at the driver championships.