The 2003 Pro Kart Endurance Championship

Round 1 - Daytona Sandown Park - 16 March

A beautiful spring day and a huge turnout set the scene for the 1st round of the 2003 Championship. Qualifying went the way of WMPC from Spencer Motorsport, with Focus and SABL making up the second row.

36 & 1 on the front row

Within a few minutes of the start, DBR-McGee hit the front of the train followed by Spencer's, WMPC, AJB, Focus and SZR. Over the first hour, Spencer's, WMPC and DBR-McGee all took their turn at the front with AJB, SABL and Focus in close attendance. DBR- McGee pitted early and in the process picked up a penalty, dropping them back to 27th place leaving Spencer's at the helm. Game-racer.co.uk now joined the top six, as did CSF, whilst notables SZR, Westco, Eau-Rouge and Box-Tech were all struggling at the back of the field with mechanical difficulties.

Final instructions for WMPC

With over two hours completed and all the teams having pitted at least once, Spencer's still led from WMPC, Focus, SABL, Game-racer and AJB, with the next group back comprising of GTR, CSF, Grilli-Corse and Grassroots. At the halfway stage Spencer's still led from Game-racer and Focus, whilst Spin Doctors, SABL and Grassroots were next on the mechanical casualty list, which would shortly include early leaders WMPC. Less than two hours to go and Focus were the next team to incur difficulties, dropping them way down the order leaving the leader board as follows, Spencer's, Game-racer, AJB, JM-Sport, CSF, GTR, Grilli-Corse, Europelaw and Screamincat Racing.

Meanwhile, just outside the top ten, JKP Racing were going well, along with a good battle between Appliance Maintenance, Lakeside and Hairy Karts, with Junior-SABL, Rogue-Racing and TGSR, all making it into the top half of the field. With less than an hour to go, CSF were up to 4th when they were blighted by a rear puncture which now left the top six with Spencer's leading from Game-racer, AJB, JM-Sport Screamincat and Europelaw.

Midfield action with JM Sport

Next on the gremlins hit list, was in fact Europelaw, who lost a stub-axle on the pit bends to spoil an otherwise excellent performance and left the last top six place to be contested between Grilli-Corse and GTR..

In the closing stages of the race, GTR got the better of Grilli-Corse and were now hounding Screamincat for 5th, JM-Sport were holding station in 4th and the top three of Spencer's, Game-racer and AJB remained unchanged.

Spencers in the lead

With the Chequered flag in sight, Spencer Motorsport were able to cruise home to an impressive victory from a large and quality filled grid, with Game-racer.co.uk and AJB Racing, making up the final podium places. Promoter's discretionary awards went to Screamincat and Europelaw and a sterling performance by GTR was noted.

The second round of the Championship is at Daytona Sandown Park on the 13th April; will Spencer Motorsport be able to repeat their performance, or will the pretenders at last start to get the better of them?

RESULTS

Report & Photos by Paul Bowler.

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