|
Victory For Millroy in French Kart Grand Prix |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 16 April 2007 |
 Ollie Millroy continued his winning ways with victory and third place in the two finals of the French Grand Prix of Karting (FFSA) at Essay this weekend. The reigning Super 1 ICA British Kart Champion from Claygate, Surrey, began the weekend in good form, setting a cracking pace in Friday’s practice session, despite it being his first visit to the track.
The 16 year-old spent much of Friday’s practice learning the track before official qualifying kicked off the event on Saturday. Then he posted the sixth quickest time to ensure a sixth place start for each of the three heats.
As the grid headed out onto the start line for the first heat, disaster
struck as a flat battery saw his Zanardi kart fail to start, leaving
Ollie stranded and unable to take up his position. Starting the heat
from dead last and a long way back, a superb drive to catch the pack
and go through the field, saw him claw his way up to a superb eighth
place at the flag.
In heat two, Ollie progressed to fifth and went one better in the
final heat, crossing the line fourth to ensure three solid finishes and
a third place grid position for Sunday’s first final.
The majority of the leading drivers and teams elected to save their new
tyres for the second final, but Ollie and the Zanardi team chose to fit
new Vega tyres for the first final, allowing him to romp to a
comfortable victory, setting the quickest time and gain maximum points.
With his kart now fitted with the older tyres for the second final,
Ollie struggled slightly against the opposition, all of whom had the
advantages of new rubber. He drove a storming race to take third place
and set the third quickest time, just a tenth off that of the race
winner.
“I’m very happy with the results this weekend and feel I am getting
sharper as the season is progressing. In the finals we chose to use
the new tyres for race one, which gave us the edge, but in race two the
advantage passed to the others. I’m delighted with the pace and speed
we set in the second final and a third place finish puts me in the lead
of my second championship this season.
“We’re getting faster and faster every time out and to win here where
the entry is ultra-competitive is very satisfying. The competition
consists of a lot of European and World Championship drivers so it’s
good to be beating them at the start of my first year in KF1 (Formula
A)”.
“The kart and team was once again superb and it’s great to have the
championship lead after two point scoring finals. It’s a way to go with
six finals remaining but I intend to give it 100%, to the last race, to
win it”.
Ollie’s combined results from the two Finals gives him championship
lead with the next round of the French Championship at Varennes sur
Allier on May 12th/13th. His next event however will be the second
round of the Italian Open Championship at Ugento, Italy on April 21/22.
To follow Ollie’s progress visit his website at www.olliemillroy.com
|
