NXT GP Round 5
Erftlandring Kerpen, Germany
21 & 22 September 2024 | Track Length: 1,107m | Mechanic: Bastiaan van Loenen, Team PitParts
On 21 & 22 September 2024 we were back at the at the Erftlandring Kerpen for round five of the NXT GP Tillotson T4 Dutch Championship kart series . This race was originally planned to be held at RACB Karting Spa-Francorchamps however as NXT Racing, the organisors of this years Tillotson Netherlands series are not insured by the KNAF, the event was moved to Kerpen.
As the last round in Kerpen was a bit of a shitshow, I went into this round with little expectations but ready to have fun.
Saturday | Training (5x 10 minute sessions)
Sunday | Qualification (8 minutes) – CET 10:26 / NZT 20:26
P7
After breaking in new tyres during the morning warm-up session, I was coming up to speed and feeling pretty good when I suffered an engine failure that left me, my kart and the track covered in oil, and unfortunately sent other drivers off track as the session came to an end. After a wild ride back to the pits with oil in my brakes also, we were able to see the source of the problem pretty quick and assess the extent of the damage. Although I had lost all of the oil, there wasnt any obvious damage so it appeared that we would be able to save my engine, which after the failure of my race engine during round 4, was itself brand new. With all the drama it was a massive surprise to learn I had qualified in 7th (P2 in class) with a time dead equal to P6 (1st in class).
Sunday | Race 1 (10 minutes) – CET 13:00 / NZT 23:00
P7 -> P4
The first race of the day was by far one of my most memorable this season (and not just for being sick during the formation lap). I quickly pulled myself together to gain positions off the start and get myself in flow to cross the line in 4th (P1 rookie) with only two tenths separating me from my teammate Bram - the newly crowned Tillotson T4 Senior World Champion in P2 and Jorn jelle - the current points leader in the Dutch Tillotson championship in P3.
Sunday | Race 2 (10 minutes) – CET 15:16 | NZT 01:16
P4 -P8
The second race was a little more dramatic than the first with drivers determined to battle early on rather than working together an pull away from the pack. After managing to pull away I was making a move at the end of the straight during the 9th lap which the 4th place driver wasnt having a bar of, sending me off for a wild 360 spin in the stones (if you know the track, it was the spot where most people rollover so I got lucky!). With skills I didnt realise I had I drove straight on after the spin, and only lost 3 positions to cross the line in 8th (P2 Rookie).
Sunday | Race 3 (10 minutes) - CET 17:15 | NXT 03:15
P8->[PXX] P14 (CLICK)
Starting the final race in 8th meant for a midfield start and plenty of chaos . With alot of aggression and unsportive driving from other drivers, I was lucky to have stayed on track by dropped me down the order to cross the line in 10th (14th after a click bumper). The drama on track spilled over to the paddock after and unsportsmanship penalties were handed out I finished the day with my second trophy for the rookie championship - P1!
Thank you to my mechanic Bastiaan, Team PitParts, my sponsors and to NXT GP and Tillotson Nederland for the organisation.