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It was a meeting where everything ( bar snow) was thrown at the competitors for round 3 of the NKRA run Formula Blue Challenge. Clay Pigeon Kart Club excelled in putting together a race meeting where everyone had to comply with face masks/helmets, social distancing between competitors and mechanics, plus many other Corona-virus restrictions. Add to this the weather, where changes of wind speed, plus dry and wet track conditions made for as testing a round for the Blue Challenge as could be created !
The Heats threw up quite a variety of racing and results, some predictable from last years’ seeded drivers, yet with other stunning results from new entrants and class transfer racers. The tricky conditions caught out drivers who, having slid off the circuit, lost position and in the worst cases chains.
The grid announcement, for the Final, caused a few sharp intakes of breath. Ex MAX racer, Sylvian Vessier, had taken pole position. Opposite him was Michael Bell, still grappling with the handling of his different make kart. Row 2 would include another MAX transferee, Billy Thomas, who was the first of a strong Welsh contingent. Alongside was Anthony Cleal, the current number 1. Row 3 saw Russell O’Neill with Paul Alexander on grids 5 & 6. Just out of novices, Phil Shears, made his own statement on grid 7, with Rob Mortimore next to him. Chris Underhill and Nigel Vickery made up the top 10 on the grid. A little behind was Ben Joseph on grid 13, who for the first time during the day would not be starting on the back of the grid. His back-row start position in every heat, a consequence of a late entry.
As the grid took to the race circuit for the Final it started to spit with rain, which caught a few of the drives out. Spins from Vessier, Cleal, Goode, Underhill and Alexander all added to the excitement of the race. Russell O’Neill took advantage of these slip-ups and took the lead, which he held to the end. Not satisfied with the lead and eventual win, he pushed hard enough to record the fastest lap in the process. Cleal recovered to finish 2nd , followed by Bell and Thomas. Vessier also recovered from his little ‘off’ to take 5th over the line. Joseph charged through from 13th on the grid to finish 6th followed by an equally charging Robin Stoddart-Stones. Drive of the day, other than the trophy winners, had to be Adrian Helps. From a grid start of 18, he worked his way through to 9th.
In the overall standings, David Watts, by using up his drop option, still maintains the lead from Cleal, who moves up from 4th. The great result of O’Neill promotes him from 8th up to 3rd. Rich Puddle, also using his drop option slips 1 place to 4th overall. Mike Bell, following a consistent race moves up from 9th to 5th with Thomas, the first of the Welsh boys, behind in 6th spot.
In the Master sub-class, Russell O’Neill and Billy Thomas share the win with 3 points each, with Anth Cleal coming in 3rd on 4 points. Overall, O’Neill takes the lead followed by Thomas and Cleal.
It is Anth Cleal who, with pole position and a win, takes the veteran section. Equal second with 7 points was Rob Mortimore and Paul Alexander. Cleal takes the overall lead from Kevin O’Neill and Rob Mortimore.
Robin Stoddart-Stones wins the Blue Legend group, with 5 points, from Chris Underhill on 6 points. Three drivers share 3rd spot, namely Kevin O’Neill, David Goode, and Ron Shone, all with 7 points. In the standings, Kevin O’Neill retains his lead, though David Goode is now the chaser in 2nd place. Ron shone and Chris Underhill share 3rd overall place.
The last sub-group, the Top Weights, is in the full control of Billy Thomas. His lights to flag win, scoring 0 points, extends his lead over Rob Mortimore and Ben Joseph.
The Formula Blue Challenge now has a 7-week break before Round 4 at Lydd (in south Kent).
For update points and more results and detals please view the results page on the www.planetkarting.uk website. OR CLICK HERE