The 2003 Pro Kart Endurance Championship

Round 4 - Daytona Milton Keynes - 1 June

A beautiful morning, with an excellent forecast, greeted a huge grid for this, the 4th round of the Championship.

The Grid

Qualifying went the way of DrBx Racing with Lakeside along side. Team X and SZR made up the second row, and the top 14 teams were all covered by less than a second.

SZR had a moment on the first corner, which caused mayhem, but as the field settled down, DrBx led from Team X, Spencers, Gameracer, AJB, and Grilli Corse. After 45 minutes of racing, just six seconds covered the first half dozen karts and the first 22 were still on the same lap as the leaders. At the one hour mark, DrBx still led from Team X who had moved up to second, then Spencers, Gameracer, Lakeside, Focus and David Bright Racing who had recovered from the back of the field. Distant travellers, Kartoon and EXE Racing, moved up into the top ten as did Eau-Rouge and Spectrum and the recovering SZR were back up the 11th spot. Meanwhile at the other end of the field, newcomers Amego Racing were floundering in 37th place with mechanical problems as were regulars Rogue Racing and British Canadian. As the first-fuel stop window approached, disaster struck Team X, who suffered a terminal failure which resulted in their retirement and as the leader board settled down again, it was AJB who took up the running from DrBx, Spencers, Focus, Lakeside and Kartoon. AJB then refuelled again and out of sequence dropping them back to 5th place, giving the lead back to DrBx, Focus moved up to 3rd with Lakeside just behind them.

Midfield action

At the half way stage DrBx still led from Spencers, Focus were now 3rd, with AJB, Lakeside and Kartoon all on the same lap. Midfield action was also fast and furious with Grassroots, FAB, TGSR and Hairy karts all scrapping over 11th place. With two hours to go, Kartoon, Lakeside, Eau-Rouge and, Focus were all contesting 4th place and downwards, whilst barring disaster, the top three of AJB, DrBx and Spencers were destined for the podium. One and a half hours to go and these 3 were now clear of the field and all on the same lap with little to choose between their lap times.

Spencers, AJB and Team X

One hour to go and FAB, EXE Racing and Gameracer had all moved in to the top ten, whilst disaster stuck Lakeside with a mechanical problem, dropping them back to midfield. DrBx really had the hammer down and with outstanding lap times combined with consistency, they had eased a lead over AJB who in turn had pulled away from Spencers. AJB and Spencers however, had completed all their fuel stops, whereas DrBx still had one more to make. In the closing moments of the race, AJB and Spencers were together on track with nearly a lap separating them, when DrBx pitted for their splash and go. They rejoined just behind this pair with only a few laps to go and chased them down in a dash for the flag. DrBx nipped past AJB in a tense manoeuvre and then Spencers split the pair as they crossed the line just 1.8 seconds apart giving victory to DrBx from AJB, with Spencers taking the last podium place in yet another grandstand finish.

RESULTS

Report & Photos by Paul Bowler.

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