Major Event Result For Renee Gracie
Tweetpress release
Hard work pays off, or so they say - and that was most certainly the case for 17-year-old Renee Gracie at the prestigious Victorian Open Karting Championships at the Corio Karting Complex last weekend.
After a summer of intense gym work and driver training with her driving coach and former World Karting Champion, Ben George, Gracie enjoyed a thoroughly competitive weekend of racing in her number five machine, to come home with a noteworthy fourth place after five gruelling and intense days of on-track action in the Rotax Light category.
Fresh from a solid Rotax Pro Tour event last month, Brisbane based Gracie was in the thick of the action all weekend and rarely outside of the top four. In fact, after qualifying in third fastest spot, the Fujitsu 'Cool' karter actually ran as high as second and ahead of no less than the internationally credentialed pair of Pierce Lehane and Joey Mawson.
Sunday's final was the true test and held over 22 laps of the sweeping Corio circuit, located just out of Geelong. Gracie made a solid start to hold onto fourth place having slipped back one spot at the first turn, before enjoying a spirited battle with world number two, Joey Mawson. Mawson eventually clambered his way by but a late race gremlin saw him retire, although not before Gracie had closed in during the late stages of the race.
A strong fourth place and a podium finish was the perfect end to an excellent weekend and Renee was delighted to show her form over the entire weekend.
"Finally, a complete weekend where I was right amongst the front runners. We've been working on so many things and to have it pay off is very satisfying. I've never been fitter or more focused and I knew we would soon be able to show some form, so to do it at one of the biggest events of the year is just awesome ... I'm so happy for Dad and Ben too, for all of us.
"The guys at the front all have international experience and national titles under their belts and you can learn so much when you're racing with them. I knew Joey was right behind me and was waiting for a lunge from him, so when it came all I could do was try and gather myself back up and keep chasing, which I did. Late-race I was actually starting to close to within striking distance of him, then he pulled off with a problem and I just rolled off the laps to the chequered flag.
"I genuinely feel that we have well and truly turned the corner since moving up from the junior ranks at the end of last year and can't wait to get back into it again at Gympie next month for the third Rotax Pro Tour round, but for now it's back to the gym, back to school and back to testing, which I know is the only way forward."
