It was time fro the City of Melbourne titles for 2019. This was a really huge race, with 355 entrants. I only had 13 in my class, but it was still the best of the best. I had done a bit of practice leading up to the meeting, and was feeling pretty confident. We pitted once again with Liam and Cam Pollard, and also this time with Lotem and Yariv Ben Yosef. It was at the pits on the main straight so not very close to the grid.
Practice went well on Friday, setting some decent laps and judging myself against the other drivers.
Saturday was to include Qualifying, Heat 1 and Heat 2.
Qualifying
Qualifying went pretty well, I qualified 2nd with a 44:856, which was 0.038 off pole.
Heat 1 - 10 laps.
Heat 1 was looking like it might of been wet, but it wasn't raining yet so the whole field was on slicks. I got a nice start, and was first by the first corner. But then, halfway around the second lap, It began to rain. I pulled a sizeable margin, but slowly was caught and passed for 1st on the 7th lap. I finished 2nd. Also got the fastest lap by 2 tenths.
Heat 2 - 10 laps.
Heat 2 was the driest race of the weekend. I started P2 again, and didn't get as good a start, and was side by side in a battle for 2nd into dogleg. I stuck it around the outside, and headed onwards in the chase of 1st. On lap 8/10, I was passed for 2nd and had a battle to the end and eventually resulting in my coming 3rd.
Sunday
Heat 3 - 12 laps.
Heat 3 was wets, and I was starting P3. I got a really bad start by understeer on the last corner, resulting in my dropping to 5th by the end of the first lap. I got back to 4th by the 5th lap, and had a battle for 3rd at the end, but I came 4th.
Final - 17 laps.
I was starting 4th for the final, and went for the outside of turn 1, and would of been P2 by the exit but it was a risky move and the kart had no grip, and I didn't pull it off. I slipped wide and sort of half spun. I dropped all the way back to 12th, and charged back through the field. By lap 2, I had already made 4 moves, and was back in 8th. I flew past another one on the straight on lap 4 for 7th, and made another move on lap 6 and then someone spun so I was back to 5th by lap 7. I then passed Liam on lap 9 for 4th and then the chase was on. The podium I deserved was right there. I tried twice on lap 13, and twice on lap 14. I got 3rd on the 4th try. I then had my head down for the last 3 laps, driving as fast as I could and making sure I didn't get passed. I finished 3rd.
Overall It was a great weekend, and I believe that I finished were I deserved. Bring on the Australasian Titles!
