IKWC Nations Cup Race Report - by Driver Mike Smith (Team Austria)

(This report was written by Mike Smith as the day and the race developed.)

The first event on the IKWC schedule is today's Nations Cup enduro, a 3 hour test of endurance and strategy, which will be contested by a maximum of 18 teams. Each team needs to have 4 drivers, with each driver doing at least 40 minutes during their stint. Along with these 3 pit stops for driver changes, each team is also required to make two additional stops to switch into new karts. These 'kart change' stops will add an additional element of strategy, and it will be interesting to see how this one will turn out.

As only 6 Americans made the trek to Europe (really 5 considering Diego Morales lives in the USA but is actually Colombian), only a single official Team USA will be able to contest the Nations Cup, and that will be the Go Fast Energy Drink Team USA composed of Truman Godfrey, James Romero III, Dan Burke, and Zack Skolnick. However, as of this morning Team Formula Americas (Myself and Diego Morales) have teamed up with Austrians Werner Truegler (2005 Indoor Kart World Champion) and Andreas Amon to form another Nations Cup team, one that I feel will be very competitive. It is not decided for what country we will race for, but seeing as there is no Austrian team as of yet, and there are two on our roster, it seems like an obvious choice.

Live timing for the IKWC is in the works, with the goal of all internet watchers to be able to see the races in action. The system will most likely be tested during the Nations Cup, and can be found at the following address http://live.kartgrid.be/.

USA News:

Team Formula Americas:

-Mike Smith has continued to run limited practice, although has put down what appears to be competitive times. Will definetly contest the Heavy class, and has been cited by some as a main contender for the World Championship in that class.

-Diego Morales put down his first laps on Thursday, coming up to speed quickly, and is slotted to run the Light Class. His times only .5 of main contenders after only a few practice sessions, and looks to be a strong contender for the Masters Title.

-Only team to be using on-board lap time displays. While using two different types as of now, will most likely run SRD's display exclusively during the IKWC.

Team Go Fast Energy Drink:

-Godfrey and Burke again leading the way in practice for team, each undetermined for weight class (each weighing around 75 kilos)

-Romero has shown new pace, and is closing the gap to his teammates,; will run in Light Class for sure

-Zack Skolnick arrived yesterday (Thursday) and has put down several practice sessions. In the Light Class as well, Skolnick has been battling a seat insert issue which has hampered his practice thus far.

Nation Cups Race.

Mike Smith, Diego Morales, Werner Truegler, and Andreas Amon make up Team AusTRIa.

-Werner Truegler qualifies P4 for us, Andreas amon Starts the race.

-Andreas gets great start, and is side-by-side for 2nd going into turn #1.

-Gets pinched in the wal going into turn #2, falls back to 6th.

-Lap 2: Brasil #4 spins us sideways and proceeds to drive underneath the side of the kart. Andreas nearly flips over as the Brazilian pilot leaves the throttle down and drives him into the wall.

-Brasil #4 sits 12th (Last), and Austria is 10th after some kart changes.

-Andreas Amon is cutting fast times, and working towards the front. In fact, he is currently 3rd fastest, and is up to 7th as we near our first driver change.

-Diego Morales will be the next driver up for us, and will start in the next few minutes...

As for the rest of the teams...

Brasil Point is leading the way over Belgium #1, and is currently enjoying a 11 second lead. Hong Kong is in third, and has a sizeable lead on 4th. The USA team is in the 9th position, but it will all be jumbled up as pit stops begin...

......

There is about 20 min left in the race, and we have worked our way up to 3rd place. Unfortunately we still need to make our final kart change, which will drop us a lot of positions. The leader just made their final stop, and fell to the 6th position. Werner Truegler is in right now for us however, and if anyone can gain more time, it is certainly him.

We have consistently made up time without too may hang ups, save for a mistake by me during my stint. Trying to pass a lapped kart, I though he saw me going into the final corner, but evidently not. Honestly it was very close to halfway up the kart, but it was too much contact to be sure. I figured they would let it go since he was a lapper, but the next time around I saw the black for a driver through.

We are now on the verge of taking 2nd away, and then need to build as much gap as possible for a chance at the podium. It's a long shot, but anything can happen...

......

As expected, we fell down in the standings quite a bit after our final change, eventually making back to 9th, although close to 8th. Not the result we would have liked for sure, but considering the circumstances a solid finish I suppose. Most importantly, it was great practice for the IKWC rounds next week, as many drivers were treating this as 'race practice'.

Congratulations to Team Hong Kong Greg Laporte, Kenny Geldhof, Geoffrey Mertens, and especially to Steven To (all from BlueStar Racing) from which the team nation is derived from.

I asked Steven what this win means to him, and he had this to say:

"A lot, a lot. Because all my family is in Hong Kong. They don't know much about the IKWC. My father said I could drive for the Nation, that it would be ok. This win is for him. I think he will be very glad. To win for the fatherland, which is what we call it... No words to say."

The emotion was evident on Steven's face, and it was obvious this win meant a lot. With powerhouse teams from Brazil and Belgium, to say that Hong Kong will be the defending Nations Cup champions... Fantastic stuff.

Pictures and perhaps more words to come later, but certainly a great start to what will definitely be a memorable event.

Mike Smith - Team AusTRIa & Team Formula Americas