It was a good opportunity for the younger drivers to be able to race with the more experienced drivers from the upper categories and learn better racecraft from them during the race weekend.
Drivers Presentation with some of the best drivers in France
The free practice timing did not go as expected as we had quite a fair bit of data collected during the last race. Perhaps the weather variation was too drastic, track condition changed quickly from session to session and I struggled to get a competitive lap time consistently between sessions.
Pushing for a better lap time during free practice
An overtaking move towards a right-hand hairpin during free practice
Though we managed to get a more competitive lap time during the official practice, it still wasn't enough. I was about a couple of tenths off pace. My lap time progressed a little better and during the qualifying, I clocked a 58.586, 4 hundredth of a sec away from the 2nd(58.546) in my group 2 qualifying and qualified 4th in my group. The track continued to improve and the group pole sitter managed to break the 58 seconds barrier with a 57.981. Overall, I was classified 20th out of 83 drivers. Not ideal but not too bad considering that I was racing with many good drivers.
Group 2 qualifying result
Weighing in the parc fermé after qualifying
Qualified 20th out of 83 drivers
I was in Group E and would be starting from 8th, 4th row on the exterior in every qualifying race. During race 1 group A-E, I had a good start and moved up to 4th towards the first corner but got a push from the back and went wide to join back in 8th. Just when I was back on the throttle, my engine decided to give up on me. After multiple attempts to re-start the engine failed, I pushed my kart to the side for safety. I was very disappointed. Not satisfied with the engine, I attempted to start the engine again and suddenly it came back alive. Knowing that the race was effectively over for me, my mind was screaming, I want to race...!!! I ended up finishing in 26th out of the 32 drivers.
Turn 2 and 3 during Saturday warm up
Drivers briefing before group A-E qualifying race
26th position in group A-E qualifying race
Luck plays an important part in racing or in fact in almost everything. Knowing that I was way below in the intermediate qualifying classification after the group A-E race, I was determined to put in everything I could to make it or break it. Just when I was so fired up and there comes a heavy down pour to make it more challenging. The track was drenched for the group B-E race and my mechanic had to make changes to the setup. I wasn't too sure if my driving in the wet would be able to compensate for the earlier race. I like driving in the rain but I wasn't sure if I was good enough.
Driving alone in the rain during training was so different compared to driving in a race. With the splashing of water and mist from the kart in front made it even more difficult for me to judge my braking and turn in point. Some drivers went off track during the formation laps and more skidded out during the race. I was happy that I was lucky this time and managed to get away from the first corner chaos though dropping a place. My race pace wasn't really good enough to close up the gap to the front but I was able to maintain and get away from the chasing pack. I had fun racing in the rain and was really happy to cross the line in 5th. That brought me up in the intermediate qualifying classification.
Sliding through turn 6 during the formation lap
Racing in full wet track with slick tires
Group B-E result
As the track "improved" from a full wet to damp track, many may think that it will be a better drive. Yes, if you play it safe and no, if you push too much. Tricky setup, tricky racing line and tricky driving technique to edge out from the rest. Many got it right but some pushed too much and got off track, some played it safe and stayed on track but dropped back. In the end, only those who managed between the two pulled away from the rest and I was happy to be one of them. I had the pace in the first part of the race to overtake and take the lead, but I guess I pushed just a little too much and nearly went off track just after making the overtaking move. From there on, I chose to race it a little safer as I was running about 6 seconds ahead of 2nd position. In the end, I took 2nd, 4 seconds behind the winner of the D-E race.
Countering a slide due to pushing a little to much
Lifting the inner rear to assist the kart to turn
Group D-E result
Now that I had climbed back to the top 15 in the intermediate qualifying classification, my objective was simple. Do not crash out and not to take too much risk during the final C-E race on Sunday morning. Finishing in the top 15 would definitely secure myself a place in the final 36 qualified drivers for a shot at the Coupe de France Nationale. Things went as planned and I came back in 11th place. It was really an experience for me with all the happening during the qualifying race. I was really happy and satisfied that I was qualified 16th overall out of the 83 drivers.
Exit of last corner towards the long straight
Group C-E result
Qualified 16th out of 83 drivers
The "war" has begun. The word commonly used in France karting to describe the "cruel" fight during the race. It is not a place for the "weak" and you need to be strong and have the desire to win. You may not be the fastest driver, but certainly, you must know how to win.
Starting 16th for the 17 laps pre-final on the 8th row on the exterior wasn't an ideal place. It's a sandwiched position plus a place to absorb any contact from the interior. Running wider may not help as you are likely to be throw off track. It was not a bad start for me but as expected, I was sandwiched with no place to escape. I was caught in the big pile up and dropped to 25th after the first corner. Luckily, my race pace was good and I managed to make some overtaking and regain my position that I had lost during the opening lap first corner. I came close to the mid pack fighting for 11th on the last lap. It was just not enough and I had to settle with 16th being 3 tenths away from the mid pack.
During the pre-final formation lap
Pre-Final result
The final. It's the final that counts. All efforts put in during the weekend boils down to the final race. Still, "surviving" the opening lap first corner remains the key to be able to fight for a win. However, It wasn't the start position I had hoped for as I would be starting from the same position as the pre-final. I was hoping that this time would be better at the opening lap first corner. But it wasn't any better, It was worse. I was caught deeper in the sandwich of the karts. By the time I got my kart going, I was in 35th position and was at least half a lap behind. The only thing in my mind was to push as hard as I could and overtake as many as I could. I was having difficulties in getting my kart to turn in as I wanted it to. Maybe I was pushing too much. Maybe I was too anxious. Maybe I just needed to forget everything and just race. I made some overtaking during the 21 laps final and could only settle with 29th in the end. Only to realise in the parc fermé that my kart had a bent tie rod which affected my kart's turning ability and yet I was 12th fastest in timing. I could have done better. It wasn't the position I had hoped for. I was very disappointed with my performance. I could have finished way higher up in the order.
Chequered flag in 29th position
Total disappointment in the parc fermé
I didn't end my 2015 season with a high note which I wanted, but overall, there was a good amount of progress compared to the first regional race in March. I wrapped up the weekend with great amount of race experience gained racing with some of the France' best nationale drivers. Great amount of support from Malevaut Sport, Henri and Jean Jacques. Also, continuous coaching and guidance from Aurélien.
Malevaut Sport Truck in the background
Mechanic and coach, Aurelien
I will return stronger
