Tough Call Dims
Brilliant Weekend
Mini Challenge driver Karl Wilson
was well on his way to a possible round win this weekend at the Taupo
International Circuit when he was handed a drive through penalty for
contact made between himself and Anthony Houston in the final race on
Saturday afternoon.
Wellington driver Wilson had so far been right on the pace over the
weekend after placing the Volt-Moneyworks Mini Cooper S onto the second
row of the grid in fourth place and followed that up with strong race
results.
In the first race on Friday afternoon Wilson fought it out with the
front pack but was unable to get around third placed Rhys McKay
bringing the car home in fourth behind first placed Courtney Letica and
Gavin Dawson in second.
On Saturday morning Wilson bettered his placing by one taking a podium
placing right behind Dawson who again finished in second behind Letica.
With a reverse grid start for the top 10 cars in Race Three on Saturday
afternoon WIlson knew anything could happen and that if he could get a
win then he was definitely in with a good chance of a podium placing or
perhaps even to win the round.
After two race wins Courtney Letica would have to place eighth or
better to secure the round over Wilson and Gavin Dawson would have to
place third or better - assuming Wilson won Race Three. The two were to
start in 10th and ninth respectively which would give Wilson the
advantage with him starting ahead of them in eighth.
Into the race and Wilson was pushing up the field of Mini Coopers well
and moving up into fourth when all hell broke loose.
"Going into the sweeper the cars in front of me all braked hard in a
spot where I never imagined they would and I had to brake quickly but I
was already on the inside of 88 (Houston's car) and made contact. I
carried on passing him and he was still going ok but later found I had
a drive through." said a very disappointed Wilson.
That drive through ultimately ended any possibility of Wilson finishing
the race on the podium let alone winning the round and he was left to
complete the race from way behind the pack of 18 cars.
"We don't believe that Karl was in the wrong or deserved a penalty. But
in the race it was determined that he was to have a drive through and
we just have to accept that." said team manger Brent Melhop.
The final race was not the anticipated end to a great weekend for the
23 year old Karter after such a brilliant start but he has shown on two
occasions what he is capable of in the Mini Challenge. His last round
in the car was at Pukekohe last November where he qualified third and
placed fourth, fifth and third in the tough racing class.
Next up for the Volt-Moneyworks Mini Cooper S is Manfeild Autocourse
where Wilford Motorsport owner Marty Hunt will take the reins over the
weekend 15-17th February.
Karl Wilson will be in the driver's seat again at the Hamilton street
race April 20-22nd when the Australian V8 Supercars come to New
Zealand.
The weekend's round of the Mini Challenge was run in conjunction with
the A1GP where Johnny Reid placed first in the sprint race and fourth
in the feature race putting New Zealand into the championship lead two
points ahead of previous leader Switzerland who had a tough weekend
scoring zero points.
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