Kip Foster X30 Masters World Champ!
| from Simon Furzer | 20 October 2014 |
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Australia’s Kip Foster fulfilled a dream yesterday at the famous Le Mans Circuit in France winning the x30 Masters World Challenge. As with all of Foster's recent international races, the result was once again not without a bit of controversy.
Throughout the heats and Pre-final Foster had always shown pace but an engine seize on the last lap of Heat 2 whilst leading certainly added an extra challenge. Driving an unfamiliar CRG and with a local mechanic the duo worked hard to get the kart set up right for the final with Foster starting off seventh.
With two English drivers Hill and Trott setting the early pace, Foster calmly held station, picking up a couple of places as errors crept in as the race wore on. Regular ‘purple' sectors showed Foster had the pace but could he peg back the leaders?
Above: Kip (centre) sprays the champagne at Le Mans
With about 5 to go, Foster had got onto the back of the leaders and when Trott overcooked it with a late braking move on Hill, it left Foster and Hill to battle it out. Even the French commentators were barracking for Foster "Go KIp Go”, and were amazed and amused as he put his hand on the rear tyre down the straight to clean it up!
Foster looked strong coming into the last lap and everyone watching knew he’d make a move - and what a move it was - without doubt the best of the competition. Turning into the left handed banked corner Foster dived from behind Hill's right shoulder maybe using the banking to give him an edge and he jammed it in under the apex much to the surprise of Hill and everyone watching.
Above: Kip's mechanic Gregory Neochoritis from Belgium
It was a master stroke by the master driver. But Hill didnt give up as they traded a bit of sticker kit on the exit. There was nothing in it as they came into the long righthander onto the straight, it should have been Kip's but a touch from Hill meant Foster was pushed out wide onto the dirt. He hung in at full bore and they crossed the line 0.002s apart. Foster's family and followers in Perth and around Australia were devastated that his luck on the international circuit had once again run out. But after an enquiry, Foster posted the following on Facebook:
"I'm happy to confirm that Graham Hill from the UK and I have been awarded with champion trophy in what the stewards and judge of fact have decided a dead heat. I can further explain later but can say that Hill was on report for contact and we were called to office for meeting. When they put on table prior to hearing charge. They indicated a dead heat and asked myself if this was acceptable from my part. I said yes…..”
The magnanimous gesture by Foster shows true sportsmanship and now with one World Title to his name he can confidently go to Las Vegas and bring home for Australia another piece of international silverware.
- There is video of Kip's last lap move on facebook HERE
Above: Thumbs-up from Kip and rival Graham Hill
