Day 5 at La Conca - Macken Team Australia

Hi everyone,

Well … I thought yesterday was stressful, it was nothing on today.

One race stood between us and inclusion in the Pre-final and Final action on Sunday – just one little 8 lap race where we needed to finish around 20th or under to be sure of inclusion ……

Prior to the race James went out in the carbie session testing some changes, some worked some didn’t, the usual…. Then we discovered the axle was bent from the impact at the end of yesterday’s second race, so a quick 150 Euro and a rush to replace it. By then our race set up was decided a bit on the hop.

(There isn’t a lot of spare time at these meetings and they are run to a very strict timetable and Juniors are always first out, we have been getting up at 5.30 am every morning)

Race time came at 11.20 am and out roared the field and then we could see James’ position was on the outside of the 12th row of the grid – bugger!

The race began badly for James, he was hit from behind trying to move to the inside, his engine actually stopped momentarily from the impact, this mucked up his move and delayed him getting across and he lost some places and pace, nothing impossible though. As the race progressed it was apparent his kart and engine were not set up well for this race.

Lap 2 or 3 through the chicane James was punted (by Israel) from behind which sent him careering onto the grass and he re-entered the track in just about last place, he limped home in 31st place – disbelief, devastation, disaster!!! (We believe Israel was penalised but fat lot of good it does us!!!!!)

So then came the agonising two hour wait to find out if we had made the cut for the Finals action on Sunday or we were competing in the “2nd Chance Race” – we were seriously borderline for inclusion in the Finals. James was shattered, he knew, we all knew, this was very tight.

So did he or didn’t he make the cut for one of the 34 places in the Rotax World Finals 2010? HE IS IN !!!!! OMG!!!

James will start on the inside position 27, he has nothing to lose now, he is in the Final so he can go out pumped for action in the Pre-Final to make up as many spots as possible to give him his grid position for the “winner takes all” World Final. All 3 Aussie juniors made the Finals action.

We watched the 2nd Chance races this arvo, they were absolute carnage – what I haven’t explained to the uninitiated is the first 6 karts across the finish line in the 2nd Chance races win entry in the Pre Final so each race is very desperately contested, great for the spectators but I am very glad my son was not in these races!! PS: we have to pay for any damage to the kart at the end of this competition – argh!

So I thought today was stressful, I am just beginning to seriously think about tomorrow and how it will end in cheers and not tears.

Until tomorrow…..

Ciao Ciao from Arlene

And the Macken Team “Australie”