Coming to Buckmore Park with some optimism after some good recent form and a glorious week of hot weather… what could go wrong? ☀️🏁

Qualifying went well. I felt it could have been better, but a 49.59 put me P6 for Heat 1. I was in a super quick group with Gillen on pole with a 48.79 and Freddie P2 with a 48.90, so I know there’s still room to improve if I want to compete right at the front.

Starting P6 for Heat 1 put me on the wrong side of the track with three right-handers first, so I had to try and hold position.

Not only did I hold it, but by Turn 4 I was up to P4! I then chased P3 and made the move into the bottom chicane. I held P3 to the finish and set a 49.20, the second fastest lap of the race, with Freddie just behind on a 49.16.

For the Pre Final I started P3, giving me the better side of the track. From the rolling start I grabbed P2. Gillen pulled away, leaving me to defend from some seriously quick & experienced drivers. I defended for my life and brought it home in 2nd. Hearing the commentator call it a “defensive masterclass” made me really proud.

The points from qualifying, Heat 1 and the Pre Final gave me a P4 out of 40 drivers (P3 in my last race, so I’ll take that consistency)! My goal was just to make the A Final, so I had already exceeded my expectations.

Then… the heavens opened. 🌧️

The Grand Final was wet, damp and greasy. On lap one I got clipped, spun and dropped to P7. Then on lap four, while trying to fight back, I made a mistake, spun off and had to wait for everyone to pass, dropping me to last. I was gutted. I managed to catch up to get one overtake to finish P19, but after a week of sunshine, I can’t help wondering what might have been with one more dry day.

I’m super proud of my first three races today, racing near the front with some of the best cadets. It’s frustrating that all that hard work disappeared in the final, but it’s my first year of outdoor karting and I learn more everytime I go racing and today I learned loads 😅. I’ll come back stronger! 💪🏎️