Karting: Kart Grand Prix |09 November 2023

Masters winners and group

Glorious kart GP ends racing season

On what the organisers described as a “God given karting Sunday”, especially after the previous days of continuous heavy rains leading to the Kart Grand Prix, the day provided the competitors with glorious sunshine throughout the event which led to the karting racing season to close on a sweet note for all its members.

The season-ending Kart GP has traditionally been a fun event to close the racing season but lately competitors take it quite seriously given that the last remaining titles available for the year are the Kart GP Champion. Last Sunday’s event proved that right, as throughout the 5 classes contesting the finals the racing was just as fierce as ever.

With 32 drivers from the various classes competing, the day started with the four-minute qualifying sessions before the actual Grand Prix finals began.

Qualifying

The Intermediates ‘C’ class took the track first and here George Delcy took pole position. They were followed by the Cadets with Joshua Cosgrow on pole, then the Juniors with Lexcus Liu Chit Chon claiming pole position. Intermediate ‘A’ followed with Carlos Quatre on pole and finally the Masters with Liza Rene-Cosgrow leading the race.

The finals then followed with the drivers being paraded on the starting grid before they were unleashed to begin their rolling lap for the start.

Intermediate ‘C’ final

At lights out, George Delcy got off to a sluggish start and was immediately swamped by the fast-starting Terence Anderson and the Lionnet brothers – Enzo and Delroy – whilst Johan Cadeau who started last also made inroads on the karts ahead.

As the seven-lap final progressed, Terence took the lead with Kerion Thomas second, and by the third lap Delroy Lionnet got past them and soon followed by his brother Enzo. Terence put up a good fight but Delroy managed to muscle past him to take the win while Enzo could not displace Terence, thus settling for third position. Johan also made progress as he claimed fourth overall with Kerion fifth and George sixth. Terence claimed the FTD (Fastelest Lap) for this class with a time of 44:889 seconds.

Cadets final

Joshua Cosgrow made a good start to their seven-lap final, but was caught up in the first corner by Maya Moulinie, however he managed to hold her off to lead the first lap. Close behind them Loïc Raoul was made to fight hard to hold off a determined Noah Moulinie who in turn came under severe pressure from Hugo Patel and Hayden Leong Pon.

At the front, the battle raged between Joshua and Maya, with Maya being very fast into the hairpin complex where Joshua was losing time, catching him up there but then losing ground at the other sectors. They remained in the same position to take the chequered flag, with Loïc holding off Hugo for fourth, whilst unlucky Noah, after having a side swipe with another driver, lost his side pod and was given the signal to come in to repair due to safety fears. Hayden claimed fifth and Noah was still classified sixth.

Joshua claimed the FTD with a time of 43:015 seconds.

Junior final

Lexcus Liu Chit Chon made a great start in his final, especially as he had his main rival Adam Ally beside him, and in the first few laps he built a good cushion to lead the race, while Adam was coming under pressure from Rudolph Camille and Julius Sinon was slowly getting close at every lap behind them.

Lannah Leong Pon had a race long with her younger brother Keeno as they battled for every corner. Up front, Adam could not do anything as he watched Lexcus roar off into the distance to take victory. Nevertheless, he was not far behind in second place, while Rudolph had a moment in a corner that saw Julius nip through to take a fine third place, leaving him to take fourth with Lannah fifth and Keeno sixth.

Adam’s consolation prize was setting the FTD of 43:042 seconds for this class.

Intermediate ‘A’ final

In the first of the two senior finals, the Inter ‘A’ drivers took to the track with Carlos Quatre making a good start to lead from Mitra Labrosse by the first corner. Disaster struck for favorite Denilson Melanie when he ran out of fuel and had to pit, Eric Maillet soon displaced Jean-David Melanie for third place after mid distance, while behind them all, Terence Anderson was made to defend a hard charging Christian Bastienne for every corner in what turned out to be the highlight of this category.

As Carlos paced himself to hold a comfortable lead, Mitra had other ideas as she crept closer towards the end leaving Carlos to defend his position in a very nervy last few laps, but in the end, he took victory with Mitra 00:694 seconds in arrears at the line. Eric took third place with Jean-David fourth, while the Terence and Christian show entertained the spectators all the way to the flag, where Terence showed that he can be one of the best in defending by taking fifth and giving the more experienced Christian a masterclass in the process and he had to settle for sixth place. Mitra, in her chase of Carlos, claimed the FTD of 44:745 seconds.

Masters final

To bring the GP to an end, drivers in the Masters class took to the track. As usual there is always drama when it comes to this class, not only is it the fastest category in Seychelles, but it is also the most exciting. Liza Rene-Cosgrow made a lighting start from the lights with Dave Rene slotting into second and Marc Delcy and Steven Rosalie close behind.

Drama struck as soon as lap 1 when Rennick Bonnalame, who was vying for a top position, lost his brakes and had to pull over and became a spectator.

At the front Liza was hounded by Dave as the race got to the half-way stage as he prepared to make a move before the end, whilst behind Marc held off Steven for third and was waiting for any mishap ahead to pounce.

As the laps counted down, Dave made numerous moves to pass but was defended by Liza, at times touching bumpers, however the laps ran out and Liza crossed the line a mere 00:090 seconds ahead to win. Marc grabbed third place with Steven taking fourth position, making it an all-BMB powered finish for this class.

Dave set the FTD of 33:420 seconds which was also the fastest lap of the day for this GP final.

Drivers were presented with medals by their fellow members at the end which brought this glorious and successful day to and end.

The grand prize-giving karting nala night will officially close the 2023 Seychelles karting season which will be held on Saturday November 18, starting at 6pm at the Chilli Bar and Grill at La Louise.

Trophies and awards for the whole season will be handed out together with the championship titles in what is expected to be a very entertaining evening.

Contributed