Alex Gardner took to the Ipswich Kart Club over the weekend to compete in Ipswich Kart Club Enduro. Gardner paired up with Lincoln Taylor and they were looking for a strong result in the Arrow DPE backed entry.
Both drivers looked to qualifying to get the best possible start to the weekend. The qualifying format was different to a normal meeting, with two eight lap random grid races confirming your starting place for the enduro.
Alex in his Bob Jane Tmarts backed entry started out of position three for his random grid place. With strong pace and clean driver, Gardner was able to jump to the front and wasn’t headed after that taking the win.
Taylor was able to do a similar drive and had the Motive8 Training backed entry off pole position for the Enduro start.
With qualifying out of the way, the team made the decision to have Alex start the one-hour race and Taylor to finish after the compulsory eight-minute pitstop. Gardner in his Next Level Racing backed entry was able to get a clean get away and led the opening few laps of the race. For Alex it was all about setting fast consistent laps and handing over the kart in a strong position.
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The Foundations Performance and Rehab sponsored entry continued to open up margin on the rest of the field and put the Arrow entry in a commanding position, nearing the halfway mark. At the twenty-six-minute mark of the race Alex in his Mr Mens Barbers backed entry pitted for his eight-minute compulsory stop and hand over the kart to Taylor in a strong position. Taylor took to the track in a commanding lead and continued to push in the Arrow DPE Kart Superstore backed entry.
Just when the boys were looking towards a straight forward victory, a full course yellow and red flag pulled the entire field back together. Taylor in Alex’s Todd Gerhardt Realty backed entry was able to hold margin towards the end of the race. After a few nervous moments, going through back markers in the closing stages Lincoln was able to take a victory for the team and a dominate performance from the team.
Alex’s parents spoke post-race of the great result and how impressed they were with both boys driving. “We were really impressed with how consistent Alex driving was this weekend. He was determined and both boys drove beautifully to take the win” Alex’s father Lee noted.
Gardner was also over the moon with the race. “It was an awesome experience, and I really loved the longer races, and especially teaming up with my mate Linc. One of my focuses for the weekend was to be as consistent as I could with my lap times and I definitely achieved that”.
Gardner will next look to the Australian Kart Championship and Queensland State Championships in the next month.
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