Akita end season on a high

It was Rye House in 2009. I was minding my own business walking towards the mechanics bay when this kart came flying down the pitlane, through the mechanics garage and out the other side, coming to a standstill on the access road but sadly not making it as far as the canal. It was when I legged it to the garage with my camera, hoping to take pictures of battered and bloody mechanics missing legs, that I had my first introduction to Raggo Racing. Sadly, this race marks the end of an era. The team are disbanding. It is a sad day indeed and the world of motor racing will be a poorer place without them.

Anyway, back to a subject that people actually care about and having already sewn up the Intermediate championship, Akita 2 could just enjoy the last race of the season. However, they weren’t interested in taking it easy as they stormed to yet another pole position. Second went to a one-off entry by the Paddy Irishman – Dan Polley making a welcome return after an 8 year absence. Akita MNR were third with CORE.GB.COM and the Anti Heroes rounding out the top 5. Not for the first time this year, Gaucho started at the back of the grid after complaining about their steed and changing it after qualifying. SMJ also started from the pack after brake issues in practice.

Akita 2’s Alexi was in confident mood on the grid and was determined to end the season on a high.

“We’re doing this because we want to win and just because we’ve won the championship doesn’t mean we want to stop winning. We are trying to up our game in preparation for the Clubman class next year. It hasn’t gone entirely to plan today because we are on our fourth kart. A couple of them wouldn’t even start and this one isn’t perfect but it’s obviously good enough if it put us on pole and should do us for the race. Hopefully we’ll get a clean start and have a steady race.”

CORE.GB.COM got a flyer and led the opening few laps before being passed by the flamboyant Irish team. The Anti Heroes were well up and Akita 2 seemed content to sit behind and wait.

Their patience paid off and with slick pit work they were in the lead and never really looked back. The battle for second in the championship was open between BIX2, Raggo and Gaucho. All 3 were having strong afternoons, despite Gaucho starting at the back of the grid they were making stellar progress and were near the sharp end before too long.

Raggo’s Nick Chadwick, rumoured to be pot hunting with a new team in the rookie championship next year, was pleasantly surprised at how his team’s afternoon was panning out.

”We had a bit of a shocker in qualifying but Dan got us right up the front on the first lap and we’ve been moving up ever since. Given this is our bogey track, we seem to be doing quite well at the moment.”

Total Control Racing were having a moderately competitive day. Despite a drama in one of their pit stops where they had to queue up behind another kart having exhaust repairs, they maintained a strong position in the top 5 for most of the race.

Hairpin Hooligans were also running well. Lucid Initiatives, BGID Racing, SMJ Racing and the Anti Heroes were all running in the mid field. Further back, B Craft, the Speed Muppets, PB2.com and Kingfisher Racing were all making up the numbers.

As the race wore on, no one really had an answer for Akita 2. The Paddy Irishmen were a clear second so the attention turned to the final spot on the podium. BIX2 looked to have it in the bag but have thrown a lot of good results away this year with silly mistakes. Not today though and they took third to secure the runner up spot in the championship. Raggo Racing managed to hold off the charging Gaucho Productions to take the final championship trophy position and end their career on a high.

“It wasn’t all easy today. There were a few spinners in front of us and it was a bit hairy at times. When it got dark it became a bit harder and it started to drizzle just a little bit but we made it through and it’s great to win the last race and go out on a high. It’s been really fun this year and we are looking forward to next year. We are going to learn a hell of a lot because it’s a big jump and we know we’re not going to have it quite as easy in Clubmans. We need to work on our consistency a little bit to make the cut but I think we can do it.”