HURRY UP AND WAIT

​Grabko Grand Prix were out for the second test of the new season on Wednesday, after a positive return to action the week before.

Week two was planned to be a qualifying simulation run through, so the order of the day was to get down to quick times as early in the session as possible, within 6 or 7 laps. That was the order Dan was given, and his focus was impeccable.

​The team was assigned kart 12 for the first run. Another known solid machine, although not really a team favorite, it is a stable and predictable platform, so a good basis for testing and getting good data.

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​Grabko delivered that expected of him, in a manner of speaking. He delivered a time of 35.519 on lap 7, and it was just under a tenth faster than last week's best time overall, and the GGP driver felt there was more in it, radioing in during the back half of the run that he thought the kart capable of a couple of more tenths given the nice conditions and he would like to keep pushing to the end of the run. The track felt sticky despite very little running on the day. The humid weather probably contributed to this, so Dan was eager to take advantage. The team gave the green light, and Dan managed to improve for a best time of 35.467 on lap 11.

After going through the previous run debrief, the second and final session of the day saw the team assigned kart 10 to conclude proceedings. What a different experience it turned out to be. Dan immediately had problems coming to grips with the completely changed driving characteristics. Exclaiming over the radio, "I've got no brakes!" the team looked at the data and confirmed the problem, but unfortunately couldn't do anything to help, other than instruct the frustrated driver to heat up the brake as much as he could on off laps.

Dan was forced into wholly changed and earlier braking points, which took him several laps to get a grip on before the times started to come down again. In addition, power unit calibration issues meant that full power kicked in much later and less linearly, meaning a tenth or so was lost on the back and start/finish straights. One positive though was the chassis itself. Dan reported in good grip levels, better than the previous session in kart 12.

Overall, however, an inferior package compared to the first run, Dan managing to squeeze out only a 35.611 out of the machine at the end of the session.

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So an opportunity missed, Dan saying, "Yup, there were a few more tenths to be had there today, the track was good. Maybe if I'd had the chance at another go with (kart) 12 we'd have gotten there. Anyway, still a good day for the team, and a nice warm up before the Summer Cup outing next week."

As our driver revealed above, next week sees the team making its second appearance in the Gothenburg Gokartcenter's Summer Cup Championship, where we hope to improve on our maiden showing and get our driver into the feature final.

Join us for that and much more this season as we continue our #GrassRootsRacing journey! Support us, support Grabko Grand Prix!  Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram