So fast in Wackersdorf, but disaster struck in the final!

RMC Euro Trophy R1 (German Cup): Wackersdorf, Germany

Quali: P11 (in group), P25 of 44 overall (with penalty)

Heat 1 - A vs B: P13 ⬆️ 🏁 P5

Heat 2 - A vs C: P13 ⬆️ 🏁 P4 (P11 after penalty)

Heat 3 A vs D: P13 ⬆️ 🏁 P6 (P14 after penalty)

HEATS CLASSIFICATION: P17 of 44

Prefinal: P9 ⬆️ 🏁 P3

FINAL CLASSIFICATION: P15 of 44

Final: P15 🏁 DNF

A great week out in Germany for Round 1 of the Euro Trophy. A new track, but we hit the pace as we progressed through testing in the dry.

The heavens opened for quali day, and we struggled to find a setup we felt comfortable with, eventually qualifying P11 in group. A nose penalty then put us back 3 spots leaving us 25th overall and in Group A for the heats.

Wet, wet, wet!

Our first heat was in the wet, starting from 13th. We felt more comfortable in the kart and found some pace moving us up the order to finish 6th on track and 5th after a penalty ahead.

Heat 2 back on slicks and we were quick! We made our way up the order to finish P4 on track, but picked up a nose on the outlap so dropped to P11 after penalties. 😖

Heat 3 was a similar affair, with amazing pace after dropping back to 15th following contact, we then set about moving up the order, crossing the line in P6. Another nose penalty dropping is to P14 however. 🤬

After classification from the heats, I was drawn in Prefinal A, starting from P9. After topping the timing sheets in morning practice I was feeling confident, and the race didn’t disappoint. After initially dropping back after some first lap contact, I started working my way forwards, passing efficiently and crossing the line P3 with fastest lap.

After all the points were tallied up, I qualified P15 overall for the Final. Lining up I knew my pace was good, but that to stand any chance of a result I would need to go forwards quickly. I crossed the line at the start P16, but by the end of lap 1 I was up to P11. I continued my progress up to P6 by lap 4, and then lost a couple of positions after been nudged wide at the first hairpin. The leaders started defending and I managed to get to the lead group, but after contact into the chicane forcing me to skip across the kerb on the penultimate lap, and again at the last hairpin on the final lap my chance for the win had slipped away. A top 5 was on the cards however, until contact from behind as a kart was forced up and over my rear axle, damaging the engine and forcing me onto the grass at the last corner.

A DNF was not how I wanted my weekend to end. We move forwards however knowing we have the pace to compete with the best in Mini.

Next up, back on home turf for R2 of the British Champs at Dunkeswell.