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The team fought there way from 20th on the grid to score a creditable 3rd place finish at Bayford Meadows despite racing with a kart that, again, struggled with top-end. The trio of Stephen Deuchar, Ian Wilson and Eddie Hall again had to change karts during practice due to handling difficulties in the first kart. Although the spare kart handled well the top end was slightly flat, leaving the team to struggle.
Initially they just had the front tyre pressures adjusted but a questionable decision from the mechanics forced them into a spare kart.
Eddie qualified way down in 20th place. He initially made up a few places over the first couple of laps but came off worse during a frantic battle in the mid-field and dropped back. Biding his time and picking off a few in the mid field, Eddie slowly started to climb back up the order. As has been the case for most of the season, the team left Eddie out longer than most and he came in for the first driver change in 8th overall.
A slick pit stop brought Ian Wilson out still in the top 10 and first in the Clubman class. Ian continued to make good progress and maintained a similar pace to the main contenders, despite the lack of top-end from the engine.
There was a drama when Ian came in for the second changeover. A kart had just entered the fuel bay just as he peeled off into the pit lane. Ian had followed another kart into the pit lane and had to queue, losing well over 15 seconds.
Despite this mishap, Stephen continued the good run of form, putting in consistent lap times and maintaining their position at the sharp end of the Clubman race.
Eddie went out for his second stint and immediately became embroiled in a battle with old Inters sparring partner, Stuart Brierley. Initially getting the upper hand, Eddie slipped past into turn 3. The lack of power was evident as Eddie struggled to hold on to the position and again fell back behind a train of karts.
Ian went out again and enjoyed a clear track to put in some more consistent lap times and firmly establish the team as contenders for a podium.
Stephen decided to put Eddie in the kart for the final stint of the race and he rejoined the track third, two seconds in front of the next team and just two seconds behind HB Racing. Again, the lack of power was painfully obvious as Eddie fell back into the clutches to the fourth place driver. Defending hard, Eddie managed to hold off the challenge for the last place on the podium and even started to reel in Brierley over the last few laps. Eddie crossed the line in third, tucked under the rear bumper of second placed HB Racing – who scored their first podium of the season.
Unfortunately for the team, their main rivals in the championship II2BI won the race – their second of the season – by finishing 7th overall. This leaves IMSD Racing now trailing them by 20 points with 2 races still to go. Despite this setback, the team are confident of taking the fight to them in the last two races to secure at least third in the championship. |
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