Ashton Ardley is a driver on the rise through the junior ranks! Young Ashton was in his new Formula K Monster EVO 3 101 while also tackling a new track, the Oakleigh Go Kart Club.
After a busy start to the year over the weekend Ashton took place in the opening round of the Karting Victoria Metro Karting Series looking for another strong showing.
Qualifying came around first thing Sunday morning and this was a tough assignment for young Ardley who due to prior commitments had no practice laps on Saturday. This was also his first race outing in his new Formula K chassis so there was no guide on set up and pace. Ardley hit the cold slick track and got some sighting laps before putting himself in the midfield battle just outside the top five. With the kart coming on throughout the session Ardley was able to come home in an encouraging sixth place!
Heat 1 come around an Ardley unfortunately didn’t have the start he was after, dropping a few positions to the back end of the top ten. Ardley improved on pace and time throughout the race but wasn’t able to make any further positions coming home in position nine. Ardley noted the start was the changing point of his heat 1. “I had never had a race start at Oakliegh before, I ended up in the wrong place and lost a few positions”.
Position nine was Ardley’s starting spot for heat 2 with the format being where you finished heat 1 was where you started heat 2. Ardley got a much better start second time round in his Formula K entry and was able to move up spots and challenge for position on the edge of the top five. Ardley continued to improve in lap time and pace and was able to come home in a strong position six put himself in a stronger position in the final.
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Ardley hailed his start for the better second heat. “I knew where to be this time of the start and was able to gain good positions”. Due to combined points determining your starting position, Ardley started out of position seven looking to improve.
Ardley got another strong start and battled for position six and seven throughout the race. Ardley was able to run home in position six, just outside the top five in a strong improvement over the weekend with little to no practice in the new kart and new track. Ardley was very happy with how the weekend went and enjoyed the Metro Series format.
“Overall I finished seventh for the weekend. I am happy with my effort for the weekend and I am looking forward to the next round of the Metro Series, at my home track of Eastern Lions”.
Ardley will next hit the circuit at the second round of Golden Power Series at the Goulburn Valley Kart Club in Numurkah on the 20th-21st of March.
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