The Challenge Cup at PFI was a weekend filled with challenges, hard-fought battles, and valuable lessons. From missing Friday practice to handling issues, we faced obstacles at every turn. Despite this, we pushed hard and took away key insights for the season ahead.
Saturday Practice & Qualifying at the Challenge Cup at PFI
Struggling to get the kart dialled in, we battled instability under braking and mid-corner. Initially, we thought it could be the tyres, and while things marginally improved by qualifying, the kart still felt unsettled.
Despite these challenges, qualifying felt quick, and we found a bit of pace when it mattered. I set the second-fastest single lap time, but a small mistake in one corner cost valuable time, placing us P12 in group for the Challenge Cup at PFI. Continued thanks to my engine builder, Force Motorsport for the waft.
Heat 1 | Strong Start and Hard Racing at PFI
I had the extra support of James Taylor today. He checked in yesterday, but stepped up to give me some extra coaching. I’ve known JT, as we call him, for a lot of years. It’s always good having the extra help. Starting P9, I got off to a strong launch and held position. It was a hard-fought race, staying with the front pack and making some solid overtakes. A clean and competitive drive saw us finish in P8, showing promising race pace at PFI.
Heat 2 | A Costly Incident in the Challenge Cup at PFI
A much scrappier race. Another good start from P9, pushing up to P7 and making early progress. However, a frustrating head-on collision saw me pick up a drop-down penalty, undoing all the hard work. I finished P9 on track, but after penalties, was classified P12 in the Challenge Cup at PFI.
Kart Issues Discovered | Handling Struggles Explained at PFI
After a full day of struggling with handling, Dad checked the kart and found it was 7mm out on one side and 6mm out at the yoke. Possibly a legacy from the Whilton Mill kerbs? With Whilton last weekend, we didn’t get the chance to have the XKART team prep the kart ahead of PFI, which might have made all the difference. Get involved in the disucssion about the Whilton kerbs HERE.
Final | A Hard-Fought Battle in the Challenge Cup at PFI
Starting P15, I got away well, climbing to P12 and chasing down the front group. Unfortunately, a mistake saw me spin over a kerb, and from there, it became a battle to recover. Intense wheel-to-wheel racing followed, but I got caught up in unnecessary fights that cost valuable time. I pushed as much as I could but ended up finishing further down the grid than I wanted in the Challenge Cup final at PFI.
Final Thoughts | Lessons Learned from the Challenge Cup at PFI
A frustrating weekend at PFI, but despite setbacks, we showed strong race pace when everything clicked. The Challenge Cup at PFI is always a tough event, and this one was no different. We take the lessons, rebuild, and push forward for the next race. Onwards and upwards.
Photography by KartPix