2 COUNTIES CLUB 2021 ‘OPENING’ ROUND
The initial first round of the 2 Counties Kart Club Championship scheduled for March had to be cancelled due to Coronavirus restrictions. Consequently, the next round at Clay Pigeon on June 13th, became the new opening round. Also, unfortunately, as a consequence, the drop round in accordance with the Sporting Regulations, has been lost!
The weekend’s weather at the Clay Pigeon Circuit was unseasonably very hot with many of the competitors taking absolute care that their cooling systems were up to scratch and their engines were running rich.
A full grid of 24 competitors were entered for Sunday’s race with the Heat winners being Anthony Cleal, Russell O’Neill, and Taylor Waldron. Once the Heat points were totalled it was Michael Bell who sat on Pole position with Sylvian Vessier on P2 grid. The 2nd row included Kieran Quirke and Anthony Cleal. On Row 3 sat Russell O’Neill and Billy Thomas.
From the lights Mike Bell took an immediate lead followed closely by Vessier. Quirke, Cleal, and O’Neill. The initial ‘big’ movers were Taylor Waldron up into 13th from 15th, Serita Shone up to 6th from 10th and Rob Mortimore up to 12th from 16th position.
The front four raced for 4 laps locked together until on lap 5 Cleal outbraked Quirke for 3rd place. Behind, Taylor Waldron was on an absolute charge and now up to 7th place. Paul Alexander passed David Goode and Rob Mortimore to sit in 12th spot.
By lap 8 Cleal had reached the front, demoting Bell and Vessier to 2nd and 3rd. Russell O’Neill accounted for Quirke to take 4th place and by then Taylor Waldron was up to 6th position. Next lap and Vessier made his move on Bell in an effort to stay within touching distance of Cleal.
The racing continued without respite all down the order with a great number of individual battles going on. On lap 13 disaster happened for Vessier, having taken 1 kerb too many, he lost his exhaust, not to mention the bottom of his seat ! His retirement from the race moved the rest of the grid up one place. At the same time Taylor Waldron took advantage and passed Bell, followed through by Serita Shone. Further back, Chris Underhill passed Phil Shears and Billy Thomas for 8th place.
Into lap 14 and Bell’s woes continued as Russel O’Neill demoted him from the 4th spot only for Serita shone to repeat the move, as she moved up to pass him.
The race then settled down to the chequered flag with Anthony Cleal crossing the line first, followed by ‘driver of the day’ Taylor Waldron, who had started in 15th position. Even more remarkable is that he bought the engine on Saturday, bolted it on to his kart, ran it in, then raced it on Sunday, finishing 2nd with the fastest lap in the Final. A truly effective endorsement of the Formula BLUE regulations, which do NOT permit any tuning whatsover, where an engine straight out of the ‘BOX’ can not only finish 2nd but achieve the fastest lap in the right hands ! 3rd was was Russell O’Neill, with Serita Shone 4th and Mike Bell 5th.
In the overall standings , Cleal takes the early lead followed by Bell, Russell O’Neill, Quirke and Thomas.
Anthony Cleal also sets the target in the BLUE Master sub-class with Russell O’Neill in 2nd spot. Thomas takes up 3rd place ahead of David Waldron and Chris Underhill.
The BLUE Veteran group is headed by Cleal from David Waldron and Underhill. Alexander and Shears are equal 4th.
In the BLUE Legend section, it is Underhill who sets the pace, followed by David Goode, Robin Stoddart-Stones, Ron Shone and Kevin O’Neill.
The last of the sub-classes, BLUE Top Weight, sees Thomas in the lead from Mortimore, Shears Ron Shone and Mike Watts.
The next 2 Counties Club round takes place at Mansell Raceway on September 26th, giving everyone a breather and the time to concentrate on the BLUE CHALLENGE which is the ultimate competition for next years’ prestigious race numbers.
For more results and details visit the Results menu on www.planetkarting.uk website.
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