2013-12-09 09:17:19.2
Despite scoring their first podium finish in the Premier Clubman Championship, the team were again left wondering what might have been. An incident near the start of the race cost the team over 30 seconds, which ultimately could have cost them a win.
Eddie qualified and put them 14th on the 28 kart grid. Maintaining his position at the start, Eddie settled down into a rhythm in the early stages of the race. Disaster struck as Gavin Knight lost control at the first chicane and took another kart with him. The hapless Eddie, who was following just behind, was left with nowhere to go and locked up and spun.
“It was just an unfortunate incident. No one is really to blame – I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s just a shame because as it turned out, that probably cost us the Clubman victory! Still, it was nice of Gavin to come and apologise afterwards, I really appreciate that.”
Eddie then got down to business and started clawing his way back up the order. Stephen and Ian (Wilson) went out for their stints and the trio established themselves in the top 10 overall, Stephen fighting hard with SC Racing and Conservatories Online. The team continued to chip away at the karts in front, putting in consistent fast laps to get to within tantalising reach of a podium.
The team were back to their 2005 best in the pits. Their pit work gained them several seconds. This was exceptionally proved in their last pit stop; coming in just under 8 seconds behind IITBI, the team amazingly emerged with a 2 second advantage with less than 15 minutes to go.
Ian Wilson did a fantastic job to maintain the gap to Alex Withington. The pressure was alleviated when Alex got tangled up with a backmarker and spun down to fifth, leaving IMSD to cruise to third, well over 20 seconds clear of fourth.
Eddie was delighted. “It was a great result! All three of drove brilliantly to claw back that lost time. It was just such a shame that I had that incident at the start, because this should have been a win – I’m convinced of it.”
