Super One Rounds 7 & 8 – Fulbeck
Once again, we were visiting another new track, and this time I was really excited because we would be staying at the circuit with the rest of the team.
My parents had bought a TentBox for our car so we could stay at the track. It would help us save money, but it also meant I could get more rest because I wouldn’t have to get up really early and travel to the circuit every morning.
We travelled to Fulbeck on Thursday and arrived at around 3pm so we could get everything set up and settled ready for a full day of practice on Friday.
When we arrived, most of the team were already there and set up. I jumped straight out of the car and went to see everyone, leaving Mum and Dad to sort the TentBox!
I had so much fun with the rest of the team. We played football on the track, I went on Harry’s computer in his motorhome, and I was whizzing around with Zac on his electric scooter.
Friday Practice
On Friday morning I woke up feeling really refreshed because the TentBox was actually really comfy. I quickly got dressed because I wanted to get over to the awning and get started.
While getting ready, I noticed my race boots were feeling quite tight, but I told Mum and Dad they would be fine and headed over to see Ian and Jack.
Jack took me on a track walk and we talked about the racing line, where I needed to brake and the different things I needed to look out for around the circuit.
After the track walk, we headed back to the awning for breakfast before going to the Super One drivers’ briefing.
When that finished, the team’s new driver coach for the weekend, Morgan, told us we were going to do a track run, so off we went running around the circuit.
I actually enjoy running, but it was a really hot day and my boots were starting to hurt my feet. I didn’t tell Mum and Dad though because I thought they might tell me I couldn’t race!
Before long, it was time to get ready and head out for my first practice session.
Friday went really well. Our pace had us consistently running around the top 10, so I was feeling confident about the weekend ahead and hoping we might even be able to challenge for another podium.
Now, remember me telling you my boots were feeling tight?
When we got back to the TentBox after the final session, my feet were so sore and I had a huge blister on the back of one of them.
Luckily, Mum had come prepared with cream and plasters, so after sorting my foot out I could still go and play football on the track with everyone else from the team!
Round 7 – Saturday
On Saturday, I just wasn’t feeling myself.
I was too hot, my feet were hurting and I was tired. Mum and Dad told me to only wear my race boots when I was actually going out on track and to try and rest as much as possible between sessions.
Before long, it was time for our final practice session before qualifying.
The kart felt good, but I felt like we were lacking some straight-line speed compared with the people around us. Ian made a few changes while Jack and I looked back through the data to see where I could find some more pace.
Then it was time for qualifying.
The session went better than I expected and we managed to qualify 14th. I knew there was work to do in the heats, but I was ready to get going and give it my best.
Heat 1 went well and we moved forward to finish 12th, but I still felt like we were missing speed on the straights. It was frustrating because I knew we could do better.
Heat 2 was more difficult. I had started to lose confidence in the kart and felt like I couldn’t make the overtakes I wanted to, so instead I started driving too defensively. We finished 14th.
Before the final, I had a really good chat with Jack. He helped me build my confidence back up, both in myself and in the kart, and it showed when we went back out on track.
I started making overtakes again and managed to finish the final in 10th.
It felt good to end Saturday moving forward again.
That night, my feet were no better. When I took my boots off, the blister had burst and was really hurting, so instead of running around we stayed in Harry’s motorhome and played on his computer.
Round 8 – Sunday
On Sunday morning my feet were feeling a bit better, so I was looking forward to getting back out on track and seeing what we could do.
Ian and the team had worked really hard on Saturday night making changes to the kart to hopefully give me more confidence and help us find some extra pace.
Unfortunately, the day didn’t start how we wanted.
I got caught in a lot of traffic during qualifying and ended up 15th.
Then, during Heat 1, somebody spun in front of me and I had nowhere to go. I ended up crashing into them and bending the track rod, which took me out of the race. I eventually finished 25th.
It definitely wasn’t what we needed!
It was then time for lunch, some rest and plenty of data while Ian and the team repaired the kart and made some more changes ready for Heat 2.
When I went back out, the kart felt so much better.
I was able to move forward and finish 12th, which gave me a lot more confidence going into the final.
Because of everything that had happened earlier in the day, I would be starting the final from 18th. After the improvement in Heat 2, I was excited for the challenge and determined to give everything I had to move forward.
My aim was to try and get back into the top 10.
I didn’t quite manage it, but I fought my way from 18th to 12th.
After everything that had happened over the weekend, I was proud of myself for keeping going and ending it on a positive.
Fulbeck definitely wasn’t our easiest weekend. I had sore feet, struggled with confidence at times and we had some bad luck on Sunday, but I learnt a lot about the track, the kart and myself.
Most importantly, even when things weren’t going our way, I kept going and never gave up.
A massive thank you to everyone at XKart, Jack, Ian, Morgan and everyone who helped me over the weekend.
Another new track ticked off, lots more learnt, and now onto the next one!
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