Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance Race 2006
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| I was part of the two teams representing the Isle of Man, who attended the 2006 Le Mans 24-hour International Kart Race. Other team members being Rob Howland, Steve Hands, Stan Keig, Hock Chan, Shane Martin, Wayne Hargreaves and Brett Hammonds. We experienced the raw excitement, no other circuit sets the heart racing like the legendary Le Mans. We experienced the heart-pumping thrill of the 24-hour race, with action packed, fierce team competition, and with the Le Mans style it is a unique driving experience. Over 40 teams participated from all over the world. The track delivers unbeatable combination of speed and handling with a mixture of corners which challenged the drivers through fast and slow curves. It is a real test of mental agility as well as driving, team and problem solving skills not to mention the severe heat we were having to contend with, reaching temperatures well over 30 degrees, this certainly challenged our physical strength. We experienced great camaraderie between us the drivers and the support team, which had to make many quick decisions with the challenges brought forward to them during the long hours. We were under pressure to gain a good time to enable a good grid position for the start of the race. Through qualifying times I obtained our teams positions of 8th on the grid to start the race, and the other team gained 22nd position which was excellent result for the island representatives against world class competitors. Its hard to pinpoint one single thing, that makes this or any other 24-hour race so special and rewarding. It measures the drivers abilities against other drivers on an international scale. We had to be reasonably physically fit to enable us to proceed with a quick driver changes, drive a good stint which can last up to nearly two hours and then get out of the kart to another driver that is just as focused as you, to do the best he can. Despite one of the first teams challenging circumstances, of a bent axle, that dropped the team from 6th overall, and 1st in the clubman class, to 30th position overall. I returned to the drivers seat and managed to claw back over 12 places in one and a half hours bringing the team back into 18th position overall. Then handing over to fellow team mate Rob Howland, to what was going to become an eventful 24-hours. Despite facing serious challenges during the course of the event and going through 2 frames, 3 bent axles, punctured tyres and broken track rods, our team unfortunately had to retire at 3am. The other Manx team persisted not having any where near the issues and challenges of the our team, they achieved a fabulous result of 4th in the Clubman Class. The Isle of Man teams achieved a great deal, for what was for many of the drivers their first attempt at endurance racing and had never experienced that amount of time in a race seat during their full seasons racing. Endurance karting has been teaching aspiring racers, the skills needed and focus to become a competitive driver. The top drivers in every major championship series, including Formula 1, Champ Car, Indy Racing League, American Le Mans Series and NASCAR trace their roots to karting. The Schumacher brothers, Aryton Senna, Juan Pablo Montoya - these drivers are among many that acquired their skills in go karts. In fact many pro drivers keep their skills sharp during off season driving go karts. Endurance karting is simply the ultimate teaching tool and the ultimate race thrill. My next challenge ahead is to possibly participate in Le Mans 2007 to secure a Podium place this time. |