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Harvey Takes Second Podium Place At PF International |
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Monday, 05 February 2007 |
 Reigning British Junior Karting Champion Jack Harvey took another step forward in his pre-season racing preparations this weekend, with a second visit to the podium in as many meetings, on his new Maranello Kart chassis at the PF International circuit.
The 13-year-old Lincoln Minster School pupil, once again showed he has the pace to take on the best in Europe this season, by setting the fastest lap of the final on the very last lap, as he came home third on the road from an eighth place starting position.
The Maranello Kart UK squad put its full weight behind Harvey for the
meeting and constantly made improvements to the set-up of the kart over
the weekend, allowing him to put in some superb drives through the
field after being shoved off the track in the two heats.
“It’s been another great weekend for us,” said Jack. “The team worked
really well to tweak the kart and keep moving us forward on lap-times.
It’s good to be able to repay them with another podium result,
especially after we had to work hard for it in the heats and again in
the final,” he added.
In the opening heat Jack was forced wide at the first corner and
dropped back to 12th place from his front row starting position. A
fantastic drive by the youngster allowed him to take third place at the
chequered flag.
In heat two he got caught up in two other racers’ accident, tapping him
into a spin on the grass, dropping him right to the tail of the field.
A solid drive, setting a handful of laps faster than the runners at the
head of the pack were putting in, allowed him to make up a couple of
places and claim eighth on the grid for the final.
A great start meant that he ended the first lap in fourth place. A
stunning pass at the first hairpin a few laps later, moved him up from
fourth to second in one move. However, the team had opted for a set-up
that would allow him to have more pace in the closing stages of the
race and he dropped back to third as his rivals pushed hard.
Over the closing four laps Jack managed to set the fastest laps of the race, ending the final lap with his quickest time.
“We went for a set-up that would bring the kart into its peak in the
second half of the race, but it came in just a couple of laps too late
really,” said Jack afterwards. “When it all hooked up I was able to
turn the times in really easily and I closed in on the guy in front but
I could have done with a couple of more laps.”
“We’re still treating these races as testing though, so it’s good to
know that we can get the kart to do what we want and still have the
pace to run right at the sharp end. I’m really happy with the team and
the kart and I definitely can’t wait until my championship season gets
going properly,” he added.
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