Monday 26 May 2008

A TOP TEN RESULT FOR ASH AT ROWRAH







You read it here last week when Mike predicted that Ash would get a top ten place this week. On his return from Rowrah, Mike commented that Ash is now starting to perform to a predicted level on a consistent basis. He isn't expected to win in his first year at this level, but the signs are encouraging.
After a long drive up on Thursday, practice went to plan on Friday and Saturday and Mike knew that at top 10 finish or higher was probable, but that would mean that Ash had to get in the first few rows in the final. With the higher quality of drivers in Stars than a club meeting, Mike was happy for Ash to make just 5 places in each heat rather than the normal 10.





In Heat 1 Ash started 7th behind a pack of faster drivers, but managed to gain 3 places to come in a creditable 4th. Once again Matt Parry, also from the Ultimate team, was the quickest driver, but the other drivers such as Callum Bowyer and Jordan King who finished on the podium, were three of the top seeds, so Mike said he was very pleased with the outcome.




In the second Heat Ash started 21st, and drove very well to finish 10th and was the driver making the most progress in that heat. Unlike some heats where you can skip past a few if there is an incident, this was no fluke, and after the first lap, drivers were passed on a regular basis and finishing ahead of his rivals from the first heat. Mike calculated that a top 10 finish in the next heat should secure a final grid position near the front.



In the final heat Ash started 10th, so any finishing position above that would approximately define the Final grid position. As the chart shows, Ash moved from 10th to 5th, and could have been higher as he was overtaken by Parry, Bowyer and King and actually overtook 8 drivers in the race. As Ash had been beaten by these drivers in heat 1, it was anticipated that they would make up the front rows of the grid, plus some of the winners from heats 2 & 3. Getting placed 7th in the final was probably as good as it was going to get and it would be a new experience for Ash to be so high up a top quality grid.


Mike said" Standing on the grid with Ash, you are so close to the front, in with all the top drivers, but then you notice a few other quick drivers behind. I told Ash just to concentrate on making the first corner on the inside and as close to the driver in front as possible. In my experience if you get hit from behind you shouldn't get spun out as being sandwiched, the momentum will get passed onto the driver in front, so you stay on the track!" Matt Parry had been excluded from a heat, so he was back in 26th and was bound to get through, as would Danny Harwood, Andy King and Callum Bowyer, who had each had a poor heat at some stage on Sunday. In the race only Sam Clarence managed to get passed in the early stages, but as the race went on Ash was caught first by Matt Parry and then by Callum Bowyer and finally by Andy King at the mid-race stage. Fortunately those behind were having a hectic battle, so didn't really challenge Ash.

As the chart shows, Ash was 12th fastest in the final, so getting in the top 10 was a good result. Mike said afterwards" In a top final like this you are often lucky to survive the first lap unscathed. So provided you are still running, from there on you need to be smoother than ever in order to keep up lap times and not try to over-drive the kart. This prevents other drivers catching you and then aiming a pass. Obviously Ash lacks experience of this type of event, but that will come with time and he is bound to get frustrated until he has developed the skills. The trick is not to force the Kart off line or scrub off speed, so 2/10ths a lap should be easy to find by the end of this season. There is very little difference between the Karts so the best drivers need to be mentally and physically fit which comes from good coaching and experience. A good example is Matt Parry who on similar equipment moved from 26th to 3rd in the final.
So far so good, but now Ash must aim to keep this up to ensure a minimum of a top ten seeding."

Wednesday 21 May 2008

STARS @ CUMBRIA THIS WEEKEND


In a quote today, Mike said "The car should know it's own way to Rowrah" after several visits already from the Midlands this season. With more luck last meeting Ash could have got a podium and provided he keeps taking advice from the team, a top 10 place should be possible. "The engine and chassis package is as quick as any available, so providing it all hangs together reliably, it's just down to Ash to do his best and get some more points to promote him up the championship table".

Monday 12 May 2008

CUMBRIAN CRUISE















Another 4 hour cruise from the Midlands to Cumbria was the last 'practice meeting' before then next Stars round in two weeks. In good weather the circuit is a gem to visit and drive, but it has it's own weather system and by Sunday it was overcast. The track is up and down, with a couple of hairpins, so keeping momentum is critical. Mike knows from experience that you need to drive an agressive line through the flat sections, but be very smooth on the inclines. Mike said " It took Ash a while to adjust to the lines I was suggesting, but he improved as the meeting progressed." In the first heat As started in 9th and ended up in 10th, which was OK, but Ash had initially made good progress but then sadly got passed by his main rivals as they worked their way up, but good points for the final.















In the second heat Ash started in 3rd, and quickly made 2nd and then followed his team mate Matt Parry over the line for some good points for the final grid. The lap times were reasonable and Ash seemed to be getting to gripos with the track.










In the third heat, a top 10 finish would secure a good grid position for the final. Ash started in 17th, but ended up in last after the first lap. With most of the quick drivers already at the front, it would have been a struggle to get a podium, but to finish in 20th was a disappointing result, leaving Ash in the middle of the pack for the final.





The lap chart would indicate that in the final Ash was the 9th quickest, in a group which included Matt Parry. all 4/10th's off the quickest. The pace is there, but starting mid-pack Mike was concerned about the first lap carnage which might develop.



As you can see from the final graphic Ash started 8th. A better result in the final heat could have put him onto the second row. The graphic says it all, with most of the top 10 dropping well down the field from the start. Matt Parry survived and Ash initially jumped into 4th, but a number of drivers from the back took advantage of the mayhem at the front and made ground. Ash dropped to 15th and stayed there.






A weekend off and then back to Rowrah again to make full use of this weeks practice. The aim has to be a top 10 finish and hope that Ash will raise his seeded position from 14th. To conclude, Mike said "Provided Ash keep listening to my advice he will get smoother and therefore quicker. Only experience and track time will ensure that he misses incidents that can wreck his race or even his season. Ash has to realise that it won't happen overnight as most of his competitors have the advantage of 4 years more in the seat. We are making up ground on them, but still have a way to go before I can see Ash collecting a Stars trophy."

Thursday 8 May 2008

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE TEAM


Mike followed up his last success with another fine drive in the 2 hour endurance assisting the team to a 2 lap victory in over completed 300 laps. The track was slower than last time, so beating the lap record wasn't an option but Mike was the quickest driver at the circuit by 3/10ths second.

The team were in third when Mike did his first stint, pushing for 2nd and he returned the kart in 1st with a lap lead. For his second stint, the Kart was in second almost a lap down and he pushed it into a 2 lap lead, which the team held to the end.

Mike sends thanks to Ross and Craig owners of Drivingexperiencesdirect.com for the invite.

Tuesday 6 May 2008

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO ROWRAH

Thankfully Ash decided not to race at PFI last weekend, as Mike and he are off to Cumbria in a couple of days for this weeks club event and then back up there in two weeks for the next round of Stars. It'd a good job Mike bought a Turbo-Diesel car at the beginning of the season! Having looked at the PFI results, it looks like King and Parry will be the drivers to keep an eye on from the table below;-