British lad wins the Kart Mag Prem's race at Le Mans

[Rupert]

I thought this would be the place for the petrol heads.

I just wanted to tell more of the world (boast) that my son Simon, age 9, won the Minikart race last weekend at circuit Alain Prost.

Here's the press release:

Simon Carr, age 9, is just coming up for the anniversary of his debut in karting, at the end of April last year,  already he has notched up 5 wins and a dozen podiums in his Minikart. On a high from his double win the previous weekend in the first round of our regional Championship, we had high hopes for the first big national race of the year, the Kart Mag Prem’s at Le Mans. 

Dry free practice on Saturday saw Simon dip into lap record territory, but a shower just before the evening qualifying made life difficult, the boys with local knowledge were a bit faster but with the track drying fast he may have still got pole if it wasn’t for waved yellows on both of his last flying laps. He was still 3^rd when he crossed the line for the last time but was pushed back to sixth at the end of the session as others got a clear run. With 32 entries, only 20 could qualify for the main event, a 3 group/3 qualifying race system meant that dropping it in either of  his two heats on Sunday Morning was not a option, so a cautious 2nd in each heat (one dry/one wet) each from 4^th on the grid was quite satisfactory. This put him 3^rd for the Semi-final.

 A dry race, Simon took second into the first complex and by the end of the 1st lap was leading.  He managed to steadily open up a small gap, coming in about 10 lengths clear of the fight for 2^nd. The Final, with intermittent sleet and snow showers, was always going to be down to a bit of luck, so with an almost dry track but a black sky, we plumped for a dry set-up and high pressures. The opposition obviously went the wrong way because other than a quick scrap for the lead in the first couple of corners Simon just drove away taking almost a second a lap out of the chasing pack, in a dry race (it chucked it down 2 minutes into the next race, phew!) This saw him cross the line almost 11seconds up on 2nd place to take his first national win, making the 7 hour, 500 mile, drive home much more bearable.’

[cooperlola]

Bloomin' good for him, Rupert.  Karting is, after all, where all the great drivers begin their careers.[:)]

[Weedon]

Well done to Simon.

The drive home is always so much nicer after a good day isn't it?  On a bad day it seems to take twice as long and in silence.

[Rupert]

Thanks, the drive home last night wasn't so bad either despite a massive thunder storm going off all round us, because as a postscript,  this weekend at Belmont Sur Rance he effectively (he only has to start at the next race) won the regional (Midi-Pyrenees) championship after only 4 of the 6 races. This also means he automatically qualifies for the 'Coupe de France' in August.