Australian Sprint Kart Endurance Titles


from Paul Hewitt 12 November 2013
 

Twenty teams from all over NSW and interstate converged on Raleigh Raceway to contest the annual endurance event that tests man and machine.

The Champions from 2012 were both back to defend their title and numerous new teams and team combinations were also present to try and grab the #1 ranking.

Early weather reports forecast a possible wet race day but the lead up days were very hot and with the track heavily used by drift cars just recently, set-up for the race would be difficult - especially if it was a wet Sunday. However after two wet races in a row, the possibility of a third wasn't on anyone's wish list.


Above: Karts and drivers wait on the grid for the standing start

QUALIFYING

With the re-introduction of the top 10 shoot-out the main aim of this session was to get in the ten. Early practice times seemed to be on par throughout the field on a sun hardened track, but by qualifying time cloud covered the circuit dropping the temperatures; maybe the forecast rain was about to appear?

When the dust settled on qualifying and the two sessions combined to form the grid ready for the top ten three heavy division teams had found themselves inside the 10 - a very good effort. The Simple Web team found themselves in the prime position of being last out for the shoot-out with last years defending champs second last out. Newcomers NFA Racing [Heavy] were midfield in the top ten and defending Heavy team, Abrahamsen, squeezing into the ten, National Frame and Truss team surprised all with a slot in the shoot-out.

TOP-TEN

The pressure of a single hot lap to set your grid got to the first two competitors with spins just before the finish line ruining their chances of improving their starting grid. Whilst these two suffered others also found out that being just out of position can lead to lost time something qualifying is so unforgiving with. Possibly the biggest result was the heavy div contender NFA Racing set to start the race from position three just 6 tenths off pole. Pole went to last years pole sitters Simple Web with a blistering pole lap of 47.133. Last years winners DKS were just 2 tenths back but on the front row.

THE RACE

With two very hot days of practice and forecast rain still being promoted by the weather channels all eyes were on the sky Sunday morning, overnight rain and cloud cover saw some teams uncover their wet tyres. However no follow-up rain eventuated and the track dried before race start but cloud hung around ever present and threatening.


Above: Video of the race start at Raleigh

The dropping of the Australian Flag saw the race start and the early pace was a cracker with team Simple Web jumping out to a big lead, DKS racing settled into a clear second and the battle for third raged heavily. NFA racing missed the start slightly and fell back but made their way up to be lead heavy team. The race settled down to a fast pace with teams now focusing in their strategies ow the race is under-way. With no early safety karts the field began to spread with Team Simple Web building and building their lead with solid pace.

The safety Kart made its first appearance right on the opening of the pit window for many teams, When the green flag was given for the restart DKS had chosen not to stop and hence gained the lead, but a few laps later surrender it to conduct their first stop, clearly sticking to a plan. Mechanical gremlins starting to make their presence felt and first to feel the effect were multiple winner of this event Luke Wall with a failed starter motor.others had troubles that saw unscheduled stops to adjust and rectify. This is endurance racing after all. The middle section of the race settled into a rhythm of preservation and building for the last stop when the race really starts. The safety kart began to make regular appearances retrieving broken karts forcing the field to regularly compress and throwing up positional changes regularly. Early Heavy favourites NFA racing had a unscheduled stop that went longer than planned and saw their lead in the heavy division slip away, but with time left anything could still happen.

Mechanical gremlins hit the leader as well in the last third of the race with a unscheduled stop the repairs saw their lead evaporate and DKS who were sticking to their plan grab the lead. Wlid Bunch,past winners were making their presence felt and were creeping under the radar and looking good and a collision that saw their campaign end abruptly. DKS were out to a 3 lap lead going into the last third of the race with Team simple web driving flat out trying to recover from their mechanical issue and thanks to good use of safety karts and fast driving began to unlap themselves. Last years defending heavy champs began to make their move through the heavy field and were looking good. Father and son team of good time racing figured on the leader board beginning to benefit from their good strategy and staying out of trouble as best they can.

As the laps began to dwindle the event seemed to develop into a holding pattern as with laps separating nearly all positions preservation seemed to be the key. Team Simple Web though still pushed hard as they could hoping that pressure may see the DKS racing team push hard and suffer some sort o mechanical issue etc. Even up to the second last lap when they caught and past the leader to get back 2 of the 3 laps they had lost earlier, easily would win any hard charger award.

However DKS drove a very good race with a well executed plan and drove accordingly when required to and were rewarded with the overall win. Worth noting is Team driver John Bailey drove the event with a torn hamsstring muscle in his leg a pretty good effort just to drive. Team Simple Web drove like demons and if [ the key word for enduros] they had not had their problem may have well won by some distance. Good time racing made use of the late safety kart to secure a well deserved third place just 2 laps down, after their lead up to the event this result was a fitting reward for their team.

'Light' class winners John Bailey [r] and Terry Hanly [l]  sprint kart endurance titles
Above: 'Light' class winners John Bailey [r] and Terry Hanly [l]

Team Abrahamsen successfully defended their title making it three in row with a clear and well driven race. NFA racing who looked clear favourites at the start overcame their their mechanical issue to hold onto second place. And the team Hard Done By who felt their team name was very apt at the beginning with a engine problem in practice kicking their day off in a unwanted fashion were rewarded with their effort with a 3rd place trophy.

With the 2013 event run and won and plenty of stories to be told team are now focussing on 2014 with plans to overcome their 2013 difficulties and return looking for an improved result. The weather never eventuated and was held in coolish overcast conditions but just 1 hour and 45 minutes after the chequered flag a huge downpour set in.

Results of the event

  1. DKS Racing
  2. Simple Web
  3. Good Time Racing
  4. Abrahamsen
  5. NFA Racing
  6. Kart Connect
  7. FNBC
  8. Hard Done By
  9. Making Up The Numbers
  10. Affordable Palletts A
  11. D Marshal Plumbing
  12. MVR Homes
  13. Affordable Pallets B
  14. National Frames & Trusses
  15. Teams James May
  16. Grumpy Old Men
  17. Wild Bunch Racing
  18. HadBarnac
  19. Top Camp Jets
  20. About time

 

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