3DR Take 2nd Victory in a Row!

Tuesday, 17 June 2008 14:32

Lovely weather greeted the team at Shenington for this years’ Superprix. The race meeting is Sheningtons’ largest of the season, attracting large grids in all categories. With only Dominic to concentrate on, the team were fully focused on repeating his performance a week earlier at Kimbolton.

It was a blow to the team that Dominic couldn’t make the Friday test due to GCSE exams. The day was hot and dry and would have given an excellent opportunity to perfect the balance of the kart early in the weekend.

‘There will only be limited testing tomorrow, and with key frontrunners making the most of today, we may have catch up work to do to get Dominic on the pace this weekend,’ commented Team Manager, Tom Smith.

Three test sessions were available on Saturday morning, so the team set about running through three engines in preparation for racing. A balance was found on the kart after just 2 sessions on Saturday morning, so everything was heading in the right direction.

‘It is a shame that I couldn’t test yesterday, but thanks to the team for working hard this morning. I am very confident after Kimbolton last weekend, and we are definitely fast enough to repeat the success of last Sunday afternoon here this weekend. I will try to stay out of trouble in the heats to give myself the best possible opportunity in the final tomorrow.’ Dominic Russell

The draws for the 3 qualifying heats were made, and Dom was to start 10th, 6th, and 22nd respectively. His first heat was Saturday evening, with the final 2 heats to be completed ahead of the final on Sunday. A good start in heat 1 saw Dominic take 8th place after lap 1. Surpassing all expectation, he made mincemeat of championship leader Nathan Lawley, and Le-mans drive Christian Vann on his way into 2nd by lap 5. With ex seeded British championship driver William Priest leading the heat by over a second, Dominic put in 3 laps over 2 tenths faster than the rest of the field, eventually clawing his way onto the back of Priest. A move on lap 8 at the hairpin was all it took for Dominic to win the first heat in convincing style, and with the fastest lap.

Confidence was high on Sunday, especially after topping the timesheets in morning warm up, and winning heat 2 from grid 6 by over 2 seconds! With 2 heat wins, starting 22nd was a precarious grid for heat 3. Dropping back to 23rd at the start to avoid a collision, Dom made the most of his pace to pick off up to 4 drivers per lap, and ended up on the bumper of Scott Hutchins in 4th position by the flag.

‘Dom has done really well in today’s heats. He has used his head and made the most of his pace with 3 fastest laps. Pole position for the final is a good reward, and hopefully he will be very thorough, not make any mistakes, and utilise the pace that he has to build a lead in the final.’ Driver Coach, Danny Russell.

A nerve racking 3 hour wait prior to the final allowed the team to thoroughly prepare the kart. The front end of the grid was made up by class drivers, including entrants in this year’s European championship, pressing home what a prestigious race meeting the Superprix is.

By 4.30pm it was time for the race. The karts left the dummy grid on their formation lap, led round by Dominic. A clean start for all saw the frontrunners all make it round the first corner, with Dom in the lead. Lap 1 and 2 were spent defending from a hungry pack of 6 drivers, all eager to stay with Dom throughout the race. Hutchins briefly took the lead on the entrance to Cafe on lap 3, only to lose it again to Dom at the next corner (hairpin 1). A signal from the team to drive away forced Dom to stop driving defensively. Lap 4 & 5 were 2 tenths quicker than Nathan Lawley, who was now heading the chasing pack. Although Lawley steadied the gap through lap 6 & 7, Dom pulled yet another 3 tenths out on him on lap 8. Now in the lead by over 1 second, the pressure was relatively off, and Dominic put in 6 clean, monatomic laps to take the flag by over 2.9 seconds at the end.

‘I am so happy to have won here! The kart was perfect throughout the heats and the final, so thanks to the team. I’m very happy with the way that I’m driving at the moment, to win 2 races in a row by over 2 seconds is so encouraging. The win here has helped my championship chances no end too, and I can’t wait to go to Whilton next weekend,’ commented a rejuvenated Dominic after the final.

‘Well done to the whole team for working so positively this weekend. We have worked closely, and everything was perfect. Dom has now become one of the top drivers in the class anywhere in the country in my opinion, so we are confident of results like this all season now.’ Don Russell, Team Principle.

After 2 successive victories, the team will now go to Whilton Mill next weekend for round 6 of the club championship. Young Minimax driver Jorgen Tveit will run under the 3DR banner for the 2nd ever time to continue his progression. Also, Junior Rotax driver Will Blackwell-Chambers will be in action yet again. He has completed some training with the team since his last race at Forest Edge, so improvement is expected.

Watch this space!