JAMES SNELL - Completed a famous victory for himself with a determined drive from start to finish. Came home by a wide margin in the end despite a massive crash towards the end, but the track definitely suited his driving style in the dry. His brother will be jealous of this no doubt. Well done.
JUSTIN METHERELL - Managed to keep out of trouble and once again came out on top in his now famous rivalry with Tony Guy. A solid drive from Justin that makes him one of the big contenders for next time. That's 2 runners up spots in a row.
TONY GUY - The master of St Eval finished in the top 3 for the 3rd race running underlining his excellent karting ability despite being some what older than most of these guys. Had a trouble free race...good stuff.
MARK STOCKS - Took 2nd on the grid and some believe he actually won this race. The time sheets reveal that the St Eval computers missed a lap off his timings which if given back to him would have given him the win. However...it cant be proved and the last time out winner will have to settle for 4th this time.
NICK JOHNS - Struggled to go the pace at the last St Eval grand prix in Sept 2008 but has learnt quickly and drove a storming grand prix after losing lots of positions on the opening lap smack up and just pipped Chris Meaney and Ricko by a few seconds for a top 5 slot. Nice one Nickademus.
CHRIS MEANEY - Driver of the day there's no doubt with a comeback drive of quality. Was smashed into the tyres on lap 1 and re joined in 19th and last. Worked his way back through the field taking Ricko on the final lap to secure a brilliant comeback. Could have been top 3 but for first lap chaos.
RICKO BARKER - Poor in qualifying but unfortunate to crash head on into several spinning drivers on lap 1. This left him with plenty to do even after lap 1 and from a lowly 12th managed to get back to 7th. Lost out to a determined Chris Meaney on the final lap.
DANNY MELLOR - Had a nightmare last time but this time he kept to his word of avoiding mistakes by having no crashes. It was a much improved drive from Danny and one that saw him reverse placings with his brother Shaun Mellor and friend Paul Rossow from the last grand prix.
PAUL ROSSOW - Got caught up in the first lap carnage and slipped down to 15th from 9th on the grid but he battled well to eventually get back to 9th place.
SHAUN MELLOR - Not quite as quick as last time but he did improve during the race to finish in the top 10 yet again after qualifying left him down in 13th spot. Had one shunt with the barriers during the race and will be kicking himself as his brother beat him !
STEVE DASH - Took pole position and it looked like a procession as Dashy scampered into the distance with fastest lap after fastest lap. However, just 8 laps from the finish...HE was finished when his engine let go and he lost over 2minutes of time to his rivals costing him a nearly certain victory. From 18th place Dash fought back to 11th but just like when Gary Stocks had victory in his hands at the Menheniot grand prix back in June 2008 - this leaves a very empty feeling. Dash will have to do it all over again.
CHRIS KELLOW - Expected to struggle and after qualifying on the back row of the grid it seemed certain he would. However Mr Kellow drove a steady race and avoided the trouble that others were getting into and finished a very respectable 12th...beating hotly fancied counterpart Mike ' Smiley ' Rickard in the process :)
NICK BLATCHFORD - Nick had a decent race and was quick off the line after qualifying in 11th and had soon worked his way up to 6th place. After colliding with brother Ross on lap 17, one of Nick's tyres became badly damaged and on the very next lap, while taking the highest speed corner on the track, the tyre snapped off, sending him careering into the tyre wall head on at about 50mph. Despite being shaken up badly, Nick got into the spare kart and came home in 13th. Unlucky.
BEN HARRISON - Ben struggled like Ricko in qualifying as he to seemed to have one of the dog karts. He avoided the lap 1 pile up and was going well in the top 7 until on lap 14 his kart engine went up in smoke and he was suddenly in last place and his race was over. Got back to 14th but he'll have much better days in the future.
MIKE RICKARD - Strongly fancied to give the front runners a scare and after qualifying in 11th things looked difficult. Off the line though he was up to 6th before the first lap pile up left him in the back of the field. After that he seemed to struggle to get back into the race and he loses out on the bragging rights to Chris Kellow on this occasion.
JAKE WILLIAMS - Had the worst dog kart of all and despite this being his debut race at St Eval, was too slow to be true. After 24 laps the marshals had seen enough and pulled him out of the race...............only to give him one of the spare karts. No surprises then that the very next lap was Jake's fastest of the day and he got back from 19th to 16th by the finish. He should improve in future races, no doubt in a kart that actually works properly next time !!
MATT HILL - His second visit to the track was nice and eventful as he was involved in plenty of action. Reached 13th in the early stages but eventually came home in 17th but had a good time.
ROSS BLATCHFORD - Incredibly Ross had the 9th fastest lap of the drivers and had been 8th on the grid but he took the full brunt of the first lap pile up involving several drivers and despite getting back to 13th mid race he got tangled up with back markers and couldnt avoid the trouble all around him. Wasn't his day...he's better than this.
RICHARD PURSALL - Took advantage of the first lap crash and was in the top 10 early on. It was only towards the end that Richard finally lost out to a few drivers and finished last but the last 4 racers to finish were all covered by just 6 seconds !
RACE REVIEW - James Snell was very speedy today and took a great win. You have to feel for Steve Dash who was robbed by an unreliable kart for the second race in succession here. He was the fastest man on the track to that point but was not the only one to have a dog kart. Mark Stocks will be scratching his head as to how he didn't pick up the win despite seemingly being clear only to have what seemed like a lap docked from his time sheet? Bizarre but he will get over it quickly and bounce back, take nothing away from James Snell's win. Most impressive drivers of the day were Nick Johns, Chris Meaney and Danny Mellor who all showed plenty of grit to finish where they did. Tony Guy continues to keep getting placed with decent drives while Justin Metherell showed this time once and for all that he is a serious contender for any grand prix as he grabbed runner up spot just like the last race.
The new karts at St Eval arrived during the first week of March 2009 and I'm hoping to arrange another grand prix for perhaps MAY 2009? I will be in contact to ask your thoughts soon OR email me / sign the guestbook on the website.. thanks :)
MORE RACE PHOTOS.......... CLICK HERE
Thanks to everyone that raced. See you at the next one................. Page last updated on 10 / 3 /
2009
Karting
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