NATSKA ROUND 4 Whilton mill Class 15 Junior Rotax 29th oct 2022
And with that, Harry crosses the chequered flag, finishing 11th overall out of 27 drivers—this was his final race on Novice plates so he will be grided for the first race, round 5 of next season.
Our day began early, arriving at 6:40 AM to be greeted by torrential rain that was nothing short of biblical. Spirits were low with the daunting conditions, but thankfully, by the time practice finished and Heat 1 rolled around, the rain had stopped, and much of the standing water had cleared.
Heat 1
With this being only his second time driving in wet conditions with this kart, Harry took a cautious approach. Despite this, he managed to climb eight positions and kept his kart on track, finishing a solid 10th place.
Heat 2
By lunchtime, the track had dried out, calling for a switch to a dry setup. What should have been a simple adjustment turned into a learning experience involving a last-minute trip to the shops, spending £30, and gaining valuable knowledge about tyre selection, bumper distance, and clearance regulations. Fortunately, we got Harry to the grid on time and fully legal.
Despite our frequent visits to Whilton Mill, this was our first dry race day at the track—every other visit had been marked by rain, wet conditions, or ice. Excited for the challenge, Harry started from 27th on the grid. He got off to a fantastic start but overshot Turn 1 slightly, forcing him to brake hard to stay on track. This cost him a few positions, but Harry showed remarkable pace, gaining 10 places and finishing 14th with the 3rd fastest lap of the heat.
Heat 3
Much like Heat 2, Harry showed impressive speed. Starting from 21st, he pulled off some fantastic overtakes, ultimately finishing 11th. His lap times confirmed that once he’s gridded at the front next season, he has the pace to compete with the leaders.
Unfortunately, there was no Heat 4 due to a nasty crash on the final bend during one of the earlier heats, which meant daylight ran out before racing could continue.
Final Results
- Heat 1: 18th ➔ 10th
- Heat 2: 27th ➔ 14th
- Heat 3: 21st ➔ 11th
Overall Finish: 11th place 🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️
A fantastic day of racing! We’re now eagerly awaiting the calendar for next season’s races.
A huge thank you to Harry’s sponsors:
Your support throughout this season has been invaluable. Here’s to even more success next year! 🙏🏎
