The University of York karting team continued their consistent run of form for the 5th and 6th rounds of the 2012 University Championship. The meeting took place at the Welsh circuit of Llandow, located just beyond Cardiff.
In the first race, Michael O’Neill of the A Team made decent headway after having to start from 33rd on the grid. After 26 laps he had clawed his way up 5 places and crossed the line in 28th. Out on track at the same time was the B representative James Taylor. After a decent starting position of 11th place, various maladies left him down the order in 26th. It was a strong drive given the circumstances.
In the following race, Maunders of the A Team drove on the ragged edge from 25th to 12th, until a coming together with a kerb spun him out and he finished 26th. Joining him on track from the B’s was Jamie Garside whom it must be said was faring much better. From a dizzying 3rd on the grid he mixed it with the leading pack until an incident relegated down the order to 11th. It was York’s highest finish position of the day and Jamie must receive recognition for his efforts.
In race 4, Matthew Taylor and James Wickham lined up 11th and 33rd respectively and there was drama from the off. Racing in the pack Matthew had his work cut out for him and ended up crossing the line in 17th place. Meanwhile James was keeping it consistent and finished in the same place from whence he had started. A good resort considering conditions turned half way through.
The fifth race saw Andrew Gilmore take Yorks best start place of 2nd place. Andrew was buoyed at the start losing a handful of places but drove tooth and nail back through the pack to make up ground and come home in 15th. Ben Chwistek of the B drivers started in 24th place and lost out towards the end having to settle for 27th place.
After the sprint section of the race day had finished the endurance races took centre stage. In race 1, the A Team – taking time out from the Los Angeles underground – consisting of O’Neill and Gilmore put their toes down to drive a blisteringly quick race. Having started in 16th place they lost out by 1 but took solace from a hot lap of 52.331. The B team of Chwistek and Wickham were also out on track for the first endurance. From 23rd on the grid they battled hard but alas would cross the line in 33rd.
In race 2 Garside and J. Taylor represented the B team as York only entrant. After a shaky start they eventually settled but the damage was already done, 27th place would be their reward. In the following and final race of the day it was up to Maunders and M. Taylor to bring home the glory. They lined up 20th on the grid and after an exceptionally strong drive from Taylor were the only team to gain positions relevant to their starting spot, they were classified 18th.
At the end of the day York A had improved their championship position and made it up to 29th, hopefully with 3 rounds left they can do even better, the B’s remained in 47th. Next the BUKC goes to Rye House, the home circuit of Lewis Hamilton near Stevenage on the 28th March.
Report by Alex Maunders & Marty Fullard