Super 1 Round 1 - 3 Sisters
Going into the Super 1, nobody really had anything to base how the weekend would go, as Phil had only done a couple of super libre races and a few test days. The maxter engines which Phil was using he knew weren’t quite quick enough, but weren’t too far off at the same time. Phil was using a Zip kart which he hadn’t done a lot of testing on, o the weekend was really going to be a fingers crossed moment!
Throughout Friday and Saturday, the main concern was engine power, Phil just had no power! But he had to make the best of what he had and worked with the kart as much as possible, to put in a lap within 3 tenths of the quickest, which wasn’t so good seen as though Wigan is Phil’s home circuit. Timed qualifying was just a reflection of this fact, 3 tenths off the quickest put Phil down into the mid pack.
Sunday brought the two heats, with starting positions worked out on timed qualifying, final 1 and final 2. In the first heat, slicks were put on, although the sky looked a bit iffy. Just as the lights went green the heavens opened and turned the race into something interesting! Phil showed how well he knew the track though, coming through from around 16th up to 8th, racing with numbers 5,6 and 8, and being quicker! Unfortunately though, Phil’s success came to an abrupt end when he spun off at the end of the straight. Phil admitted that it was his fault, he went for a move that wasn’t there and crashed into the back of Danny Cruttenden, throwing him off the track.
Heat two was going quite well, with Phil again up into the top 10 in 9th position. Then a move a Daniel Cammish resulted in a collision with Cammish trying to over defend his position and ripping Phil’s front right tyre valve out, meaning he had to drive with a flat for 6 laps. Phil was obviously struggling as times dropped considerably, and he dropped back to 12th, which is where he finished.
In final 1, Phil managed to get up to 10th at one stage, but dropped off again and dropped back to 12th where he finished. The second final was cancelled due to an enormous pour down of sleet while the karts were on the grid. So Phil was standing 12th in the Formula A British championship, not bad considering the situation going into the weekend!