UK Karting - Daytona Open Series

Results & Reports
Daytona Open Series

Daytona Open Series
Non Championship Round - 20th February 2005 - Daytona Milton Keynes

An extremely cold start was in order for the teams that braved the temperatures to race at Daytona Milton Keynes today. Fortunately clear skies accompanied the cold start and the promise of some sunshine later in the day helped to instil a little optimism into those drivers with particularly cold fingers!

Five different classes were represented with Thunderkarts, Pro Maxes, TKM 4 strokes, Pro Maxes, Pro Karts and a brace of Rotax Maxes in attendance. Several teams were using the day as a test session for the forthcoming summer series but a core of teams were still taking the racing as seriously as ever! In amongst the action were 3 drivers in a Daytona entered Thunderkart, running in the race as a prize for their efforts in Daytona’s own individual Iron Man championship. The Iron Men were certainly hoping to put in a good showing and were looking forward to the first round proper.

Qualifying was as expected topped by one of the Rotax Max teams. KKC2 (1:02.128) took the honours embarrassing their colleagues in KKC1 who struggled to get their kart running after a mechanical problem and could only prop up the grid in last position. SAS (1:04.495) topped the thunder list ahead of Team Slick (1:04.631) and Blue Thunder (1:04.664). WGS (1:07.269) were the quickest TKM, just ahead of the Pro Kart of Road Runner (1:08.423) and new comers to the series in their ProMax TT Sport (1:09.088).

Most of the regular teams had a good solid race with their preparation leaving them in the pits only for re fuelling and driver changes. Some of the teams using the day to test their karts visited the pits more regularly than others but still kept the rest honest when they were on circuit. The Max of KKC1 soon made amends for their qualifying troubles when they popped in the fastest lap in the early stages of 59.135 a good guide for those team who may be taking part in the trackside races at Daytona later on this year.

At half distance the Pro Kart of Road Runner was out front with its 8-lap advantage still keeping it clear of the field. SAS were in second ahead of Team Slick, The Piranha Bros and the Daytona Thunder of The Iron Men putting in a great performance against some much more experienced owner-driver teams. The ProMax of TT Sport were also getting the hang of the challenging Milton Keynes circuit hanging on in 6th overall and lowering their best lap to a 1:03.687. Another kart to really improve on their times from qualifying was the TKM of WGS their best was now a 1:03.237.

As the race progressed steady work from Team Slick who finished in the top 3 of last years Open series made their way to the front of the field. SAS and Piranha Bros were the teams in hot pursuit. The Pro Kart of Roadrunner were still hanging on in there with the thunders of Rock Ape Racing and The Iron Men bearing down on them.

The race was only interrupted on a couple of occasions to collect stricken karts. Fortunately “Herbie” was parked for most of the event. On one occasion the Pro Max of TT Sport had to be retrieved after munching its way through the second battery of the day! A friendly team in the paddock lent them a third battery and they were soon back in the race.

Towards the end of the days racing the cold began to bite and a couple of drivers made errors that were not normally in their repertoire. A black flag for The Iron Men was the only down side to their days racing. The Boys from BAR had also had a torrid days racing with the kart only finally making it out onto the circuit to complete a handful of laps. Lets hope Jenson’s Honda fairs slightly better in the F1 Season opener in Melbourne.

As the flag fell to signal the end to a great days racing Team Slick managed to hang on to take the victory over the hard charging SAS who at the finish had closed the gap to just 49.30 seconds. Third overall and in the Thunderkart class were the Piranha Bros. The other class winners were: Roadrunner (Prokart), WGS Racing (TKM), KKC1 (MAX), and TT Sport (ProMax).

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