11 year old Heathhall Primary Pupil Kieran Conchie enjoyed a podium finish at West of Scotland Kart Club in Larkhall in his debut race in the Rotax Mini Max class.
The new class sees Kieran move into a kart the same size as driven by adults and the power has increased from 6.9hp in the cadet kart to 18hp in the mini max. With only having had one practice day with only 1 hours track time in the kart entering the race weekend the objective was to use the weekend as a further test.
However, Kieran’s determination and ability showed in practice matching the front runners pace and on race day qualifying 3rd after the 3 qualifying heats. A good start in the final seen Kieran take 2nd place going into the 1st corner which he held till the end, take a fastest sector time and missed the fastest lap by 8/100ths of a second.
Heat 2 proved a particular challenge with the rain coming down just after the race start, with no experience on the kart with significantly more power on slicks in the rain Kieran adapted well in conditions like driving on ice.
Kieran told DGWGO Sports News, “I was really excited going into the weekend about the new challenge but also was realistic that it’s a whole new learning curve so to be running competitively at the front was a bit of a surprise and I’m really proud of the result I achieved. The kart is a lot bigger with much more power, so I have a lot to learn along with my dad who has much more to do working on the kart compared to the Cadet.”
Kieran told DGWGO Sports News, “I was really excited going into the weekend about the new challenge but also was realistic that it’s a whole new learning curve so to be running competitively at the front was a bit of a surprise and I’m really proud of the result I achieved. The kart is a lot bigger with much more power, so I have a lot to learn along with my dad who has much more to do working on the kart compared to the Cadet.”Kieran would also like to thank Andy Fairley and Michael Taylor of Clan racing for the brilliant support over the weekend and also his 2017 sponsors:
Building Craftsmen Dumfries
Dumfries Body Repair Centre
J & J Currie Ltd
Hire and Supplies Ltd
Anderson Kilts
Billys Power Tools
Craigsview Caravan & Trailer Centre
Grierson & Graham Honda
Bithell Asset Finance Solutions
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