The 2003 Pro Kart Endurance Championship

Round 7 - Daytona Milton Keynes - 17 August

Superb weather conditions greeted the teams for this nine-hour extravaganza, with pit tension running high despite the obvious signs of an occasional hangover, courtesy of Saturday evening.

Qualifying was determined by just two thousandths of a second in favour of Spencer Motorsport from AJB, with DBR-Eglem and Lakeside Racing, making up the second row.

After a very clean start, the race settled down with AJB locking themselves onto the rear bumper of Spencer Motorsport, and effectively staying there for the next two hours. DBR were about 4 seconds adrift of this leading pair and just clear of a huge train headed by Team X, then Lakeside, WMPC, Focus, Hairy Karts and CSF 1 to name just but a few. At the other end of the field, Gas n Go and Box Tech had already incurred difficulties and front runners JM Sport and SABL were now fighting over 30th place, having already pitted for unscheduled stops.

With an hour gone, Spencer and AJB eased away from DBR, followed by Team X, Lakeside and WMPC, while Gameracer joined the list of casualties. Team X were the next team to hit problems and dropped back to 19th position, giving the leading clubman team, CJV 1, the opportunity to move up into the top six. As the casualty list grew longer and longer, claiming Lakeside and then WMPC, the Clubman teams were having a field day. CJV 1 were now 3rd, CSF 1 were 5th and Hairy Karts moved up into the top ten.

DBR had recovered back to 6th place after a brake problem, but Spencer and AJB’s relentless progress at the front, had earned them a 2-lap advantage and still separated by two hundredths of a second. Spencer were then forced to change an engine, which effectively changed the course of the race. Unbelievably they only lost 3 laps to the leaders, including refuelling, and further problems for DBR left Hairy Karts, CSF 1, and CJV 1 in front of the Pro teams of Focus, Grilli Corse and Team X.

With just over half race distance completed, Spectrum, Grassroots and TRT, were putting in good performances, just outside the top ten and Eau-Rouge had worked their way steadily up to 8th position.

Spencer had reduced their deficit to the leaders, back to 2 laps, followed by CSF 1, Hairy Karts, Grilli and CJV 1, with Focus still very much in touch.

With two-thirds distance gone, DBR and Team X, both moved back into the top ten, whilst leaders, AJB kept up an astounding pace at the front of the field, giving little chance to the ensuing pack. With just two out of the 9 hours to go, Grilli had moved up to 3rd place in front of Hairy Karts who still had an extra fuel stop to make, whilst both DBR and Team X were catching 5th and 6th placed, CJV 1 and CSF 1. Hairy karts then fuelled, as did Spencer, elevating Grilli to 2nd place and DBR leapfrogged both Hairy Karts and CJV 1, to move up to 5th position.

With less than an hour to go, Spencer were back up to 2nd place, but with little hope of catching AJB, barring a mechanical failure, which was looking increasingly unlikely. Grilli were still 3rd and being caught by the fast finishing DBR and the top Clubman team, CJV 1 were under serious threat from Team X.

In the closing stages AJB were destined for a convincing victory, but after a late fuel stop for both Spencer and Grilli, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places were now just 12 seconds apart as they raced for the flag. Spencer leapfrogged Grilli to secure 2nd place and on the very last lap, and virtually out of fuel, DBR stole the last podium place from Grilli, with the fast finishing Team X in close attendance.

With a fantastic finish to this 9 hour extravaganza, AJB’s victory, may have put them clear of Spencer Motorsport in the point standings, however the outcome is far from over and Septembers round at Daytona Sandown Park, should not be missed.

RESULTS

Report & Photos by Paul Bowler.

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