The 2003 Pro Kart Endurance Championship

Round 6 - Daytona Sandown Park - 13 July

A scorching hot day, with exceedingly high track temperatures, greeted the teams for this, the 6th round of the Championship.

AJB Racing took the pole from Spencer Motorsport with DBR-McGee 1 and GameRacer.co.uk making up the second row.

Fifteen minutes into the race and AJB had established a 5 second lead over Spencer's and DBR who were battling over 2nd place, whilst GameRacer had come into contact with a back marker, bending their rear axle and effectively putting them out of contention. Focus, Lakeside, Eau-Rouge and Grilli-Corse were still on the leader lap as the one hour mark approached, SZR and Grassroots were also having a good run and Gas n Go from CJV 1, lead the Clubman's race in a creditable 9th and 10th places overall. Grilli's then made an unscheduled stop, dropping them back to 22nd place, as did Europelaw, who were now back in 30th position.

Meanwhile AJB had pulled out a commanding lead at the front of the field, Focus were now up to 2nd place, just in front of Spencers and DBR, with SZR and Grassroots both moving up into the top 6. As the first fuel stop window approached, a red flag incident halted proceedings, fortunately and despite the incident looking quite serious, the injuries were confirmed as no more than 'batters and bruises', and racing resumed some fifteen minutes later. This bunched the whole field up, but regardless, AJB were now a lap and a bit up on Focus, DBR and Spencers.

With two hours run, Spencers and DBR were locked together again and clear of Eau-Rouge, Lakeside and Focus who were all battling for 4th place. Grilli recovered back to 7th position and CJV 1 were now leading the Clubman's brigade, in an exceptional 8th place overall.

As the halfway stage approached, Gas n Go took over 9th spot for leading Clubman, with Hairy Karts in 2nd and JKP Racing in 3rd; the flying CJV1 kart having had a moment and now back in 17th place overall, but still 4th in class. AJB extended their lead to two laps over Spencers and DBR, Lakeside were still in 4th place followed by Eau-Rouge, just twenty seconds adrift. With recent Le Mans success still ringing in their ears, Gas n Go moved up to 6th place overall, deposing a number of 'Pro' teams including SZR, Focus, Grilli and Box-Tech who had just moved up into the top ten.

With two hours of the race to go, AJB were moving relentlessly towards their second victory in a row, Spencers and DBR Were still squabbling over 2nd place leaving Lakeside, Eau-Rouge, Gas n Go, Focus, SZR and Grilli all on the same lap, disputing 4th place.

After all the major players had refuelled for the last time, AJB stormed onward with Spencers and DBR just 5 seconds apart and the same ensuing pack, still fight for the remaining minor places. The Clubman honours were still going the way of Gas n Go by two laps from Hairy Karts, Box-Tech and CJV 1, with front-runners Grassroots falling by the wayside with a blown engine.

With just forty minutes to go, Spencers and DBR had closed the gap to AJB, down to less than two laps and Eau-Rouge moved up to 4th place just in front of Grilli and Focus. DBR then fell foul of the regulations in respect of a driver irregularity and was subsequently disqualified, leaving Eau-Rouge to claim the last potential podium place just in front of the fast finishing pair of Grilli and Focus. Gas n Go looked set to take the Clubman win, when they suddenly lost one engine, but continued to circulate in some reasonably acceptable lap times. Despite some brief 'on-track' assistance from another team, which was duly curtailed, they dropped back to 3rd in class before the flag fell, managing a podium finish behind CJV 1 and Hairy Karts who overhauled them during their single engine stint. AJB s lead had dropped to less than one lap as Spencers put in a stunning finish, but regardless they would cruise home to take a well-deserved victory, whilst Eau-Rouge claimed the last podium place in front of Grilli and Focus, to conclude another brilliant days racing.

RESULTS

Overall Podium

Clubman Podium

Report & Photos by Paul Bowler.

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