Liam Pollard took to the second round of the Victorian Country Series at the Warnambool Kart Club over the weekend. Pollard, having his first start at the track since joining the senior ranks was looking to make an impact and getting strong points towards his championship assault.
The Hafele sponsored entry arrived on Saturday looking for a positive start to the weekend. Pollard started his practice in tough fashion with mixed conditions and the team finding it difficult to read setup due to the conditions.
The Hafele backed driver went into qualifying looking to try and get a gauge while also wanting to start in a strong position for Sunday. Young Senior driver Liam struggled for pace in qualifying with the difficult conditions, hovering outside the top ten. Qualifying was a tight affair with the top six drivers only being separated by seventeen hundredths of a second. Liam qualified in position thirteen overall and knew work had to be done going into Sunday’s races.
Sunday morning presented itself with wet conditions to start the day and Pollard looking to improve from his starting position. Young Liam got a lighting start in the opening heat, jumping from position thirteen up to seventh by the end of the opening lap. The Hafele sponsored entry showed strong pace compared to his Saturday efforts, battling in the top ten in an ultracompetitive field with past national and state championships winners. Pollard came home in position eight overall with a strong showing after a struggle in qualifying.
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Pollard showed excitement starting out of position eight and higher up due to his heat one finishing position. Liam got a clean get away and was able to stay in position eight after the opening lap. The Hafele backed entry unfortunately didn’t quite have the pace of the opening heat and was battling around the edge of the top ten. Pollard came away just outside the top ten in heat two in position twelve looking for improvements going into the all-important final.
Pollard was looking for a top ten finish in the final after showing competitive signs in the earlier heat races. Young Liam got another strong start jumping up inside the top ten in eighth spot at the end of the opening lap. The Hafele sponsored entry had tough battles all throughout the final but again lacked the setup window in the drier conditions. Pollard drove to the best of his ability coming home with an improving result just outside the top ten in eleventh position overall gathering more good points towards his championship.
Young Liam’s father Cameron noted they struggled with set up all weekend but it was a great day of driving from Liam. “It was a tough weekend set up wise with conditions changing all the times. For only Liam’s second time at the track and first in seniors he drove exceptionally well and the front drivers were a class act”.
Pollard’s Hafele sponsored entry will next hit the open racing circuit at the next round of the Victorian Country Series at the Portland Kart Club.
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