ALBIE SHINES AT GENK

We competed in the Golden Trophy at Genk for our first visit to an international race. This was to get some more practice in the Micro Max class in preparation for the World Finals in Bahrain in December. We decided to try a Birel chassis this weekend, another first for Albie.

Testing went well in wet and dry conditions and Albie showed good pace and adapted to the new kart and engine well, it was Albie’s first time on the Mojo tyres which he really enjoyed as they were grippy.

When qualifying arrived it was a wet session, we had five minutes which meant about four laps. Albie didn’t quite complete the last lap as well as he had been doing as the track was improving, yet still got fifth place and only 0.6 seconds from the pole sitter.

Heat 1 was run in dry conditions and maintained my fifth place with good pace and finished less than a second from third place. Not bad considering Albie has never raced an event where  you start the race ‘rolling’, he usually has a standing start in his Honda cadet! Heat 2 and again I started fifth, this time I got a poor start and fell back but I recovered back to fifth place at the chequered flag again showing good race pace.

Finals day on Sunday and the pre final was run in damp conditions. Albie started from third and got a good start which propelled him into the lead. Unfortunately Albies engine was struggling with top end power and he just didn’t have the pace to hold the lead. He fought hard with the top three but ended forth place.

He started fourth for the final but had had issues getting away from the dummy grid, the engine was not 100% but he recovered to start in his correct position, however, Albie were about 0.5 second down on our normal pace. As ever, he had to fight for everything to hold onto sixth place of 27 drivers and the top UK entrant.

Overall we were disappointed not to fight for a podium in the final but it was a great experience and gives a lot of confidence before we head to the Rotax world finals in Bahrain in December.