The first race weekend of the season came with it’s ups and downs at Douvrin in Ligue Hauts de France. We had a great final practice on Friday and a start beyond expectations on Saturday with an 11th place in the first qualifying race. Unfortunately events during Sunday mornings warm-up triggered a red flag but a steady recovery got us on P10 in the pre-finals. As it kept on drizzling we ended the finals with a solid P12 for the first race outdoors and the first race of the season.
We would like to thank our sponsors and the racing team of Claude Bal for all the support throughout the weekend!
Friday – final pratice & setup
We took in some solid laps on Friday and proved our pace although finding a good setup that matched our driving at Douvrin was not easy. Probably this first day proved to be more stressful for the mechanic (that’s me, the dad) than for Lukas. Quite the experience and learning through the day. We had some minor damage when we took a hit to the front wheels.
Saturday – qualifying and first quali race
Our first true race experience outdoor took place in the afternoon with the qualification. Fresh tires, a good mindset and confident driving resulted in a 12th place (on 16 pilots) with a time of 45.719, more than half a second faster than Lukas his personal record at Douvrin. Quite the lap to get things started. The first qualifying race with a best time of Lukas below 46 seconds but consistent driving provided him a fantastic 11th place. A result being expectations for his first outdoor race.
Sunday – highs and lows with a good result
Sunday morning conditions were tricky, with a wet surface and some light rain now and then. The sessions started with the warm-up which came to a dramatic end when Lukas took a spin and the cart of Lucas Bennecer was launched in the air and landed upside down. The session was red flagged but ended with Lucas Bennecer being transported to the hospital and damage to both the kart of Lukas and Gabriel Wallet. We wish Lucas a good recovery and are happy to know he left the hospital. In retrospect all drivers were a bit too greedy given the conditions and in personal opinion (that’s me as a dad) the marshall was in the wrong place.
Damage being repaired, and with a green nose instead of the LN kart blue, we went on to finish the second qualifier race in 13th position. A spin in the last lap in the gravel made it hard to get the kart out but Lukas anyway managed to pull it off and finish the race. All confidence was regained for the pre-finals, which we started in P12, and a steady drive with a sharp mind resulted in the 10th position. A result beyond expectations! Worth mentioning is that Bruce Ramboer managed to take the 1st place and hence pole for the finals.
The final was less of a noteworthy experience and in tricky conditions, but without spinning, we ended on P12. Unlucky as we could get Bruce Ramboer spun twice resulting in P8 at the finish line and Maxime Verriest took 4th place. Gabriel Wallet unfortunately continued to suffer from the damage on his kart and ended P14. In retrospect there was more in it, all mini drivers of the team did an astonishing job and much was learnt over the past days. Onwards to Ostricourt on the 23rd and 24th of March 2024.
