Richardson Motorsport started their 2021 Golden Power Series season on the weekend in their respective classes. With the all-girl power driver line up of Charlee Richardson in KA4 Junior Heavy and Erin Richardson in Restricted 125 Light, the aim was for some competitive results and a fun weekends racing.
Charlee in KA4 Junior Heavy started qualifying of with a strong and fast battle for pole position with multiple time State Champion Brodie Thomson and current State Champion Zach Findlay. All three drivers spent time at the top of the time sheets but Richardson in her RB Kart Engines sponsored entry was able to snatch pole position in the dying stages. Erin who is new to the senior ranks went out for her qualifying session of Restricted 125 light. With a hot pace session Erin was able to qualify in the top 20 landing in position 19 for the heat races.
Heat 1 and Charlee had a battle on her hands getting shuffled back to fourth spot off the start behind fellow front runners Findlay, Hayden Millington and Ethan Briggs. The Global Pacific Solutions Group Sponsored entry was able to make the move on Millington for position 3 on lap 3. Charlee chased after the two leaders setting faster lap times, managing to come in just behind them in position 3. Erin Richardson got a great start in her opening heat jumping up to as high as position 15. The Maxima racing oils backed entry had some great on track battles dropping a few spots to finish in her starting position 19.
Heat 2 come around and Charlee improved, leading away in the open few laps. The Spray on Concrete sponsored entry entered a hot paced battle with Brodie Thomson trading fastest laps of the race in the process. Thomson made a move on lap 5 for the lead but Richardson fought back to take the lead. In a hectic final lap Thomson was able to take victory with the RB Kart Engines powered Richardson coming home with another podium finish in position 2. Erin Richardson dropped a couple of spots off the start going back outside the top 20. Erin’s determination and mindset meant she was able to get the head down, make up spots and charged back into the top 20 coming home in position 18.
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Charlee was out of position 2 to start heat 3 and was shuffled back to third spot, but was quick to make amends. Richardson made the move for second on Zach Findley on lap 3 and went in chase of race leader Thomson. After being over a second behind Richardson closed with six tenths of Thomson coming home with her third podium spot of the weekend in position 2. A mixed started for Erin Richardson in heat 3 dropping down to position 21 but then moving up to position 16 by lap 3 with some optimistic driving! Richardson in her RB Kart powered entry continued to battle on at the back end of the top 20 coming home in position 19.
Final time come around and the fierce battle between Charlee Richardson, Thomson and Findlay was set alight! Richardson immediately jumped into position 2 and was hot on the heels of race leader and pole sitter Thomson. With only half a second separating the top 2, most of the race and fastest laps being exchanged, Richardson rounded out her weekend with position 2 overall and in the championship. Erin Richardson got another clean get away and continued her battles around the top 20. Richardson settled just outside the top 20 and came home in position 21 in the final in a great display in the senior ranks.
Father and mechanic Leigh Richardson was happy with both drivers results for the weekend. “Charlee was keen on a good weekend coming up. Expectations as a top 5 would have been where I was hoping but pole and position 2 was excellent! Erin has only been in VIC Combined light for one year so she is still finding her feet and me also with the set up of the rotax”. Richardson Motorsport will be running the six round Golden Power Series with a trip to Tasmania States on the radar COVID permitting. The all girl power line up is a team and force to be reckoned with!
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