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In a gripping day at Buckmore Park Raceway, Seth won two heats, was on pole for the final and set the fastest lap of the day.
However, due to a bad set-up change, his kart was handling awfully in the final and he just missed out on taking the overall
victory.
The sun shone over the track as the IMSD team arrived at Buckmore Park on the 1st April. The track was still damp from the overnight rain but it was drying quickly. Then the skies opened just before practice and the track got completely soaked. Seth was quick and comfortable in the very wet conditions but by the time heat one approached the track looked as if it might start drying again and the team fitted some intermediate tyres.
Buckmore Park is one of the many circuits that doesn't run timed qualifying. Instead everyone is allocated a random grid position for each of three heats. For the first heat Seth started second with Michael Gibbons on pole. The track was still quite wet so the start was quite slow. Michael led in to the first corner, but Seth pulled off a determined move round the outside and took the lead. He kept his head in the tricky conditions and in the first lap alone, he managed to create a 3 second gap leaving Ben Deacon and Michael Gibbons scrapping behind him. From then on he just kept putting in steady lap times and won by nearly 5 seconds. So the results were: 1-Deuchar 2-Deacon 3-Gibbons
By the next heat, the track was almost bone dry. Seth was 'completely in the dark' about how this heat would pan out, because the team had still not uncovered the cause of the engine problem that he had at Bayford. He started 4th directly behind Ben Deacon on the outside of the track. The two got a great start and Seth had moved up to second by the first corner. Ben drove very quickly in the opening laps and Seth managed to stay glued to his bumper until they had made a good lead. After about 3 laps they were 6 seconds in front of anyone, This was when Seth went on the war path. He got a great run up the hill, and as the pair went through Cafe Curve Seth darted out on to the outside of the track. Ben tried to hold his line throughout the corner but in the end had to yield. Seth maintained the lead until the end, but Ben was never far behind. As Ben started to get closer Seth had to drive more defensively. This allowed Luke Rosewell to start reeling in the pair but he couldn't get close enough. He finished 2 seconds behind Ben at the chequered flag. So the results were: 1-Deuchar 2-Deacon 3-Rosewell
For the final heat Seth started 2nd alongside Luke. Seth pulled off almost the exact same move on Luke as he did on Michael on the first corner and took the lead. He was running comfortably in the lead for about 5 laps but then he noticed 'the grip suddenly drop off, as if there was a serious problem.' Rosewell who was quite close behind took advantage of this and closed right up on Seth. He tried a couple of good overtaking moves but Seth was determined to win and managed to pass him back. However the grip was getting worse and on the last lap Luke launched over the kerb at the second hairpin in a desperate attempt for the win and just managed to slip past Seth. So the results were 1-Rosewell 2-Deuchar 3-Deacon
Seth reported these problems to the team, but they didn't know what to do. Stephen decided to change the width settings and tighten up the chassis, so the mechanics finished this while Stephen and Seth talked tactics.
Pole position for the final was a great result after the disaster at Bayford and Seth was feeling 'pretty confident'. Ben and Seth misunderstood eachother badly on the rolling laps so there were 3 false starts. However they finally got it right and Deuchar took the lead with Rosewell close behind him. For the first few laps Seth was very quick, but once again the grip started to go, and he started to slow down. After 8 laps Luke passed Seth in the bottom section of the circuit. Seth had to brake hard to avoid hitting him and Ben and Michael followed past. Seth thought that all was lost, but he managed to pass Michael back and follow Ben on to the tail of Luke. However they lost some time in lapped traffic and Luke drove off into the distance leaving Deacon and Deuchar scrapping for second position. Seth started to fall back but on the penultimate lap he summoned up his last bit of energy and threw the kart up the inside of the second hairpin to take P2. So Luke Rosewell took a deserved victory, with Deuchar and Deacon close behind.
Seth was 'Pretty pleased with the result, and it was all that I could have managed with the kart under the circumstances. But I need to win. That's what I come here to do, and second place is just the first loser!' Seth didn't stay for long so I managed to catch up with Ben Deacon afer the race.
Web Editior: So Ben, another strong result, and some more valuable championship points
Ben Deacon: Yeah. It was a great day overall. Everyone drove really well and although Seth had kart problems I still feel that Luke deserved every bit of the victory.
WE: So you think anyone of you three could have won toda?
BD: Yeah definately, and thats what I like about Royale. It's always a close battle right till the end
WE: Great. Well I'll try and catch up with you at the next race
BD: Yeah thanks!
So thats it from us but there will be another report later on in the week about a press conference deciding what Seth should do in his motorsport future.
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