June was a quieter month, an early trip to PF International followed by round 6 at Shenington.

As I gradually try to improve my race craft at PF in readiness for the GP, I’m adding the Friday test days to my schedule, which allows me to try and get the kart setup correct and hopefully pick up some pointers from some of the other racers.

Our last time out at Shenington showed that as a team, we need to work to better. The Saturday allowed us some time to focus on this.

We are also off on holiday soon so not competing at the Shenington SuperPrix, the much-needed rest will mean I’m ready for the British GP.

Trent Valley Kart Club Round 3: 1-2nd June 2025 PF International Kart Circuit

Friday Test Day

Friday, we wanted to use the time to get the best possible dry setup, although only using my practice engine, we spent some time working on steering and chassis setup.

We also worked on our qualifying. The system at PF relies on your best 3 laps, but its also critical at which point you start the session, you need to be in the right place on the circuit but not be compromised by the traffic.

Saturday Qualifying Day

As usually, Saturday consisted of 4 practice sessions followed by simulated and then official qualifying. Session 3 saw us putting in the best times, the track had loads of grip and I managed a 15th best time, We shifted to the race engine for practice 4 but I couldn’t get a clean lap, and so the times didn’t look great. PF is such a difficult track that unless you are perfect then the times are badly affected.

Simulated qualifying was better, and I found myself back up the order at P16. Switching to new tyres for qualifying saw me slip down to 20th, once again, not quite getting my timing on track correct.

Race Day

Starting with warm up, some small overnight changes and a carburettor rebuild meant the kart was feeling a bit better, in the warm up, on used tyres I managed to get up to P16.

Heat 1

I didn’t get a great start but pushed hard throughout the race making up 3 places before the finish.

Heat 2

I got a much better start, and the race pace was very fast, once again moving up 3 places and racing hard with Orion Mehta and Jacob Nairn. I managed to perform much better with my speed being much closer to the front.

The two reasonable finishes in the heats meant I would start from P17 in the final.

Being mid pack is always a challenge, you are in the most likely pace to get caught in a starting lap incident. Happily I got a clean start, pushing extremely hard and setting some great lap times, just 0.6 seconds off the leaders, I started to move up through the field, past Jacob and then past Orion, an incident at the bridge saw a yellow flag come out for a few laps but I managed it well remaining with the pack.

Finally crossing the line 3 places up from my start in 14th, my best result at PF since I started racing there.

Shenington Summer of Speed Round 6

Practice Saturday

After our May race where the OMS team of Danny Khurle turned up and showed Jade how to working together made them more competitive, we decided that we should focus on how we drive as a team and how this helps winning races.

In essence, by running in a train you can go faster, the aerodynamic advantage gives an edge over those running in their own air.

So by the end of the day, as well as putting in some good times, me, Alesandro, Philip and Will were all working together to make a train that was capable of winning speed.

Sunday Warmup

Sunday was amazingly hot and dry and we had the setup and pace for the day, practice saw me move up 6 places, we didn’t get any timing from our transponder, but we were setting the fastest lap times, everything was looking really good.

Heat 1

Starting P3, I got a great start taking me up to P2 chasing Philip with Alesandro in 3rd, I thought we would settle into yesterdays team driving, it was a massive surprised to be taken off track in the 2nd lap by Alesandro, pushed onto the gravel at the Bruno chicane. It was clearly on purpose and dropping to last, I pushed hard but couldn’t make up the now massive gap. Dad was furious and we made a complaint to the clerk of the course, which inevitably ended with no penalty to the no 28 kart.

Heat 2

Another good start position, from P2, unbelievably it happened again, Alesandro coming up the field pushed me off track, which although minor, dropped me two places from 2nd to 4th, I had to push extremely hard to get back to 3rd. I set the best sector times in sector 2 and 3 but didn’t quite make the fastest lap.

Heat 3

Heat 3 was another good session with the team finally working together, although it felt like the kart had lost a little pace, I came in 4th.

Final

The difficult heat 1 and 2 meant I would start P5 for the final. The first lap was a false start and we had a second lap, and I got a great start, but in turn one got squeezed onto the kerb and just couldn’t control the oversteer, eventually spinning and dropping to the back. I struggled to get back on track and ended up a lap down, allowing the leaders to pass me, with no chance of making any places I just drove for a finish, pushing hard but the damage was inevitable, and I finished in last place.

My own error this time but I do firmly believe had I not been taken out in the 2 heats I would have had a better starting position.

So P9, didn’t damage my championship too much but I was very disappointed with the day and with my teammate’s attitude.

New Sponsor Announcement

Very pleased to announce that Adams Morey have joined us for the remainder of 2025. As part of the Greenhous Group, you will know them mainly from their DAF dealers, but they have a much wider spread of businesses, We add them to our team of supporters and you will soon see their logos join the kart.

Up Next

Trent Valley Kart Club Championship Round 4

P F International Race Circuit

4th – 6th July