It was finally time for the State Cup in Bairnsdale, and we had put a lot of effort into making sure we had the best chance to win at this event.
Qualifying
I Qualified P4/6, in the wet, and we didn't get the setup right and we were 9 tenths off.
Heat 1.
Heat 1 was interesting in which it was the off track battle which caused what would happen in the race. Slicks or Wets. A classic part of karting when its wet, but right on the brink of being dry. Our closest rival was waiting to see what tyres we would choose, and with the help of our friends coming down to support us, we waited halfway into the race before us to change to slicks. So our rival and I were on slicks and the rest were on wets. We dropped back at the start, but then after about 3/8 laps, the slicks became faster than the wets. I was in front of my rival, and we caught up to the leaders and i finished in P3, right behind P2 who was on wets. Fastest Lap was done by me.
Heat 2.
A fully dry race this time, and I was starting P4 and I managed to be in P2 by the start. I made a mistake at turn 1 on lap 2, allowing P3 to pass me for P2. I caught back up halfway through the race, and we had a great battle resulting in me coming out on top.
Heat 3.
Don't remember what happened that race, and the GoPro didn't record. All I can say is, finished P2.
Heat 4.
I started P2 for Heat 3, and I was forced wide at the start, putting me near the back, and then a stack between 2 other drivers got them out of the way, and I caught up to the front two, and put a move on one of them and I came P2.
Final.
I was quietly confident about the final. We had found something in to pick up almost half a second but it destroys the tyres in about 2 sessions. So we rolled out in the final starting P2 with knowledge that we might do really well. I started and went around the outside, and had about 5 or more kart-lengths my the end of lap 1. I got faster and faster, and managed to get a 38.751, which beats the old lap record of 39.273 by half a second. I won the 16 lap final by 8 seconds. That is 5 tenths a lap away from the leaders. Despite not winning any heats or qualifying, we knew that we could do it and come away with a win. It was a great way to end out the year.
P1 in the state is an amazing feeling. All the hard work that you put in throughout the year to try and come away with the best result and you do it by 8 seconds. Thanks so much to my dad for the kart work and support, AGS for helping me out always, DSI for the amazing engine and Cam and Liam Pollard for coming down to support me and pitting with us throughout the year, making the weekends super fun.
We now go into 2020 with new challenges, the new tyre compound will test our ability to set up a kart well, and test the kart.
