Hoodoo Or Guru? Bizarre Final For Foster In France
| 21 October 2013 |
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Kips Foster’s International hoodoo continued in bizarre circumstances at the IAME International Final in France yesterday.
Set to start 6th in a very wet pre-final in the X30 Master class, Foster's engine took on water and he didn’t even complete the formation lap. The subsequent rear of field start for the final prompted one of his greatest races, cutting through a high quality pack (taking 27 positions in 20 laps!) to finish in fifth place.
The race was won by Frederic Blin. However, both Foster and Blin (who had stopped on track to celebrate with his family) were excluded from the results for a celebration at the end of the race.
Thierry Raccamier (Kosmic) was declared the winner.
Above: Kip Foster and Frederic Blin embrace with "a good old Aussie hug" after the race. They were both disqualified.
Amazingly, Foster was circumspect about the events and was more excited about his storming race than being upset about the exclusion.
"...great race. Had a ball. Fast. And did the best I can. That’s what racing is all about. Blin shattered as you can imagine. Been there. Felt that. Feel bad for him" Kip wrote on facebook.
Kip will be hoping his International hoodoo will not follow across the Atlantic from Europe to Las Vegas for the Supernats...
Above: A happy bunch of chaps - Foster and officials with his penalty notice
The other two Australians had mixed results in the massive Senior X30 class. Joseph Mawson was one of the quickest in the field and favoured by many to take out the event. However, he never turned a lap in the pre-final.
"At the first corner everyone crashed and spun in front of me and I was stuck on the outside" he informed KartSportNews. "Then on the exit of turn three, one driver lost control when he hit the grass and hit me in the back corner as I was passing him and it sent me 360ing into the wall."
Starting off the last row, Joey ended the 20-lap final in 13th. Fellow Kosmic driver Nicolas Gonzales took the win.
James Allen won Pre-Final 'C' but dropped to 8th in his final. Both Mawson and Allen were amongst the fastest drivers on the track in their respective finals.
- Full results HERE
Above: Kip Foster (10) and James Allen's machines in the DR Karts pit
pic - Foster/facebook
