Aiden Schweikert is out of Covid lockdown and returned to the race track over the weekend at the Eastern Lions Kart Club. After a long three-month break, Schweikert was excited to take on the large thirty-one kart field in Cadet 12.
Due to the caliber of drivers the team, he was looking to come home with a top ten finish and Sunday morning qualifying is where the weekend started. Due to over night rain the Cadet 12 drivers hit the track on a clean circuit with times slower than what was set the day before. Aiden in his Haley Hire sponsored entry sat just outside the top ten in the early stages of the session looking to push forward. In a great lap on his last for the session, Schweikert was able to jump up inside the top ten into sixth position, in a great result for the young driver in the large field.
Young Aiden had his first heat get off to a bad start, getting pushed wide at the start of the race. The G & L Motor Repairs and Performance backed entry was down in seventeenth but was determined to make his way forward. With some fast pace and clean over taking, Schweikert was able to make his way back up to position twelve by race completion with his lap speed fast enough to be inside the top five.
Schweikert had another challenging start but was able to get away much cleaner and stayed in his position. The Haley Hire sponsored entry made its way inside the top five. Young Aiden had pressure from behind but was able to come away with his strongest result of the weekend, coming inside the top five with confidence in his kart set up and ability.
Another hectic start had Schweikert right in the thick of the action in heat three, settling in seventh at the end of the opening lap. Lap two had the G & L Motor Repairs and Performance backed entry falling outside the top ten in position eleven. Young Aiden put his head down and with fast and consistent driving, made his way back inside the top ten coming home in position nine overall and having him out of position seven for the final.
The final was upon Aiden and the start was crucial and his best start of the weekend had the young driver in seventh and right on the front drivers. The Haley Hire sponsored entry made a move on lap five for sixth spot and was pushing hard on the back of fourth and fifth position. Schweikert was throwing everything he had at the race, trying to make his way inside the top five for the final. The G & L Motor Repairs and Performance came home with a strong sixth position in the biggest field of the weekend.
Aiden’s father Justin spoke of the results and how happy they were to be back racing after the Covid break. “Overall, it was a great result given a very tough field of drivers and a long break since the last race. Although wanting to win, Aiden was all smiles getting to race again but also getting out with all his friends that he hadn’t seen for 4 months. From my point of view seeing how well all those kids have dealt with a very difficult time and how happy they were to be back doing what they love. It was also great to catch up with all the parents and a huge laugh to see how exhausted we all were at the end!”.
Schweikert will once again be back on circuit later this month to build on his season return.