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Strawberry over the moon at Kart Planet
9th June 2009
The increasingly popular Rotax Euro Challenge had attracted over 130 entries for the second round of the series, held for the first time on the Kart Planet track, at Busca in Piedmont, northern Italy (29-31 May).
Reilly wins Snr
Although the peaks of the Italian Alps in the background remained snow-capped, the event experienced a heat-wave, which unfortunately left Strawberry’s Team Manager, Warwick Ringham with heat stroke.
Jnr's Josh Webster
The on-track action was even hotter with the organisers proclaiming that the racing was “nothing short of fantastic”.
In the Senior class, Joseph Reilly was able to make up for his disappointment in the opening round (at Campillos, Spain, 28 - 29 March) and used the “the right strategy” at Busca to take a well-deserved victory, whilst team-mate Luke Varley returned to the podium (after winning the opening event), taking a finely judged third place and extend his championship lead.
Snr's Pre-Grid
With Joseph starting from pole for the pre-final, Luke squeezed in behind him at the start. On lap 2, Varley took up the running, making the most of his fresh tyres.
After three attempts, the starter finally let the field go for the main final. Luke got the hole-shot to lead the pack into the first corner but Joseph found himself pushed down to fourth. He didn’t stay there for long and as the pack streamed down the start/finish line to start the second lap, it was Joseph leading the charge to catch his team-mate.
With Luke firmly in his sights, Joseph executed an impressive move to take the lead a lap later.
Snr Final grid
Despite enormous pressure from behind, Joseph’s pace and performance ensured he was never headed on the run in to the chequered flag. Having slipped to third, Luke pressed as hard as he could but could not bridge the gap to the second-placed driver and settled for the valuable points and another trophy for his growing collection.
Special mention should be made for Strawberry’s third Senior and series leader going into the weekend, James Greenway. Warwick explains, “James wasn’t in the best of health after getting a blood infection. He battled on but was in no fit state to be able to challenge at the front.”
Spectators
Joseph’s win has boosted him to fourth in the title chase, whilst James remains in touch from fifth overall. Speaking in the press conference afterwards, Joseph said, “We made the best decision this weekend, to have the right tyres, tyre pressures and ideal set-up to win. The pre-final went well for me; I started from pole and used my old rubber to save my new tyres for the final and finished second to Luke, who had chosen to use his new set. It just gave me the edge in the final I needed to get into the lead and stay there for the win. We tried really hard all week to find the right set-up and it all came together in the heats, then we managed to wrap it up in the pre-final and final. The result is good for the championship points and I’m feeling quite confident now going into the third round. I want to thank Warwick and David and Strawberry Racing for all their hard work, and my team mates for being there and ‘having my back!’ Also thanks to my sponsors back home in London and my parents for all their support.”
Joseph Reilly
Representing the team in the Junior category, round one hero Josh Webster figured well in the eliminatory heats, taking a first place and two fourths to earn himself a front-row start in the pre-final.
Edged wide going into the circuit’s first right-hand corner, Josh dropped to fourth.
Just as in the UK, European Junior Max racing is renowned for its relentless pace and closeness - and Busca was no different. Having opted to run his new tyres in the pre-final, Josh used their superior performance to grab the win on the last lap.
Podium: Snr's and grid girls
The Strawberry Racing pole-sitter made a perfect start in the main final but suffered from now having worn rubber on his Tony Kart Racer EVR chassis and was soon under pressure. A monumental scrap developed and Josh found himself shuffled down the pack to sixth. Surviving some desperate manoeuvres, he held onto his place and the championship lead, which he later admitted was his main priority in Italy.
PC_QF_Heat_Rank_1_res
The series now moves onto the Czech Republic for the third round (22-26 July) and makes a popular return to the Autodrom Česká Lípa, at Sosnova.
Before then, the team will return to domestic racing duties, this time at the legendary Buckmore Park circuit, in Kent. The action kicks off this Saturday (12 June) with timed qualifying from 12:30, followed by the first heat at 3:10pm. The racing will continue on Sunday (13 June) and will feature the all-important points-scoring finals.
RGMMC Grid Girls
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