The factory outfit returned to the southern-based circuit for Round 1 of the Forest Edge Kart Club championship, contesting Inter-Max and Junior Rotax.
Inter-Max saw Nathan Rond and Warwick Mylum sporting the SODI colours. Both drivers closed out their three heats with consistent top 6 finishes. Rond’s best was P5 and Mylum’s P3. They lined up alongside one another for the final, with Mylum in P5 and Rond P6. A strong start for both drivers saw them tow one another for the majority of the opening lap, until an unfortunate off for Mylum saw him drop down the order. He didn’t let this stop his charge and pushed back to chase the leading pack, that had Rond fighting in. Unfortunately, an accident ahead meant Mylum had to take avoiding action and leave the circuit. Thinking this was the end of his race, the team were disappointed, but he rejoined the fight as the clock ticked down. Punching in fastest lap after fastest lap, Mylum was lapping three-tenths quicker than any other driver on the circuit. Although an incredible push back to the front, the timing-clock was not on his side and as the race finished out he came across the line in P5 and taking the fastest lap accolade with one of the best performances the team has seen from the young racer.
Rond proved consistency was key when it comes to results. Pushing the entire race and staying with the leading pack, putting in his best performance of the day. As the last lap board came out, Rond was sat comfortably in P4 but knew this wasn’t all he had. As they exited the Grandstand corner, he kept his eye on the prize and made a last lap manoeuvre to move him forward into P3. Putting in an impressive defence, he took the chequered flag in the podium position, giving his best-ever finishing result! Having pushed for this moment since entering the inter-max category at the beginning of last season, Rond thoroughly deserved the trophy. The team will continue to push forward and climb the podium.
Dalton Haywood returned to the team after a hiatus from kart racing to race motorbikes. He first ran in Vitesse colours during the inaugural season of the SODI UKC Academy in Micromax, but now joins us in Junior Rotax. Having to miss the majority of Saturday practice due to illness, Haywood started on the back-foot. With the all clear from the medical team, he was set to go for Sunday’s racing. The heats were a mixed bag of results after receiving a front-fairing penalty in Heat 1. He recovered well in the remaining heats with two top 4 finishes and started the final from P7 on the gird. The first lap set the tone for the rest of the race. A competitive train remained for the final and made it tough to gain positions. After a hard fight, Haywood finished up the final in P5 after two well-placed overtakes. Leaving the final feeling we had more to give, the team and Haywood will be back at Round 2 to fight for that podium finish.
Aronas Sarkus joined the SODI Vitesse Junior Max roster this weekend and gave a promising first performance of more to come from the novice driver. Having to start from the back of the random-grid allocations, Sarkus was up against it from the start. This didn’t hold him back and he gained a total of 36 positions across his three qualifying heats. Entering the final in P14 on the gird, Sarkus was the highest novice by 6 positions. Weighing in at 10KG over the Junior Max weight, Sarkus could be at a disadvantage, but this didn’t stop him pushing hard and retaining his position, crossing the line in P14 at race distance. Taking home the Top Novice trophy whilst he was at it!
The team are back in action at Whilton Mill for Round 1 of their championship at the end of the month and are looking forward to building on the foundations laid at Forest Edge. Hopefully adding more trophies to the team collection!
