The 2002/3 Pro Kart Endurance Championship

Winter Series Round 2 - Daytona Sandown Park - 15 December

A very wet and chilly day set the scene for this; the second round of the Winter Championships, with about twenty or so teams braving the cold conditions. Last round winners, Focus Racing were conspicuous by their absence, thus ensuring a fresh winner for round 2.

An unusual pre event race took place immediately after drivers briefing, by way of a thong-claded run by some prominent drivers, to raise money for the Childline appeal. Not a pretty site.

Qualifying went the way of Team X from David Bright Racing with Johnson Motorsport and Grassroots making up the second row.

Within a few minutes of the start, David Bright Racing took the lead with Team X and Johnson Motorsport in hot pursuit; Grassroots headed the remainder of the field. First casualty of the day was Motor Master, mainly due to the appalling weather conditions, which would eventually affect almost the entire field in one way or another. Meanwhile the leaders had extended their advantage to about 20 seconds as the 1 hour mark approached, when front runners Grassroots were the next to have a problem, elevating Rancid Racing up to 4th, just in front of Spin Doctors and newcomers, CoSport. With the first fuel stop completed, the top three remained unchanged, Grassroots had made a good recovery back to 4th place and Dot Com moved up into the top six. As the halfway stage approached, David Bright Racing were forced to pit for an engine change which dropped them down to 8th place making the order, Johnson Motorsport from Team X, Grassroots, CoSport, Rancid Racing and SZR making up the top six. At the halfway stage the running order remained unchanged, with Johnson motorsport maintaining their lead, but the persistent rain was getting progressively heavier making driving conditions abysmal and causing all sorts of mechanical problems for many of the teams.

By two-thirds distance, David Bright Racing had worked their way back up to third place, but still some two laps adrift of the leaders, and steady performances were staged by Spin Doctors, CoSport, Javelin and Rancid Racing who were all vying for 5th spot behind Grassroots.

With an hour to go, just 17 seconds separated Johnson Motorsport from second place Team X, and with David Bright Racing gaining on the pair of them, we were in for yet another grandstand finish. Some 20 minutes later, Team X took the lead from Johnson Motorsport who were struggling badly with their now bald wets and were falling back into the clutches of the fast finishing kart of David Bright Motorsport. Minutes later, Johnson Motorsport were back in third and David Bright Motorsport were closing in on the leads Team X. With the chequered flag in site, David Bright Racing stole victory from Team X, to conclude an excellent days racing, despite the appalling weather conditions.

Team X's second place, puts them at the top of the points chart as we all look forward to round 3, at Daytona Milton Keynes on the 12th January 2003.

RESULTS - ROUND 2

Overall Winners

Clubman Winners

Report & Photos by Paul Bowler.

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