This weekend sees the final round of the FIA Karting European Championship take please at the Essay circuit in France. After torrid luck at round three last time out Callum needs a good result this weekend to secure a top ten spot in the final standings.
The Essay circuit is a happy hunting ground for Callum. Two years ago it was where he got his CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy campaign off to a start as he dominated the weekend taking pole position and the win in the final. It set the tone for the season with Callum going on to become champion.
Callum at Essay in 2016 © KSP Reportages
However, that was in the Academy Trophy class with Callum now in the OK class. The CRG Factory driver has not had an easy task of bringing in the results so far this season but has always kept himself out of trouble and that helped him to two solid results in the opening two rounds of the championship.
However, round three in Ampfing, Germany, things would change for the worse. Callum had started the heats strong taking a 3rd, 4th and 6th but bad luck then struck in two heats dropping Callum from an almost guaranteed top ten start to 27th on the grid. On what was a track already difficult to overtake at things didn’t get much better in the final and Callum failed to take any points away from the weekend. Callum will be able to drop that score of Ampfing so that won’t be haunting him for this weekend.
Focusing on Essay the circuit provides a few overtaking spots and is a very flowing circuit. Callum didn’t need to do much passing the last time he was here but he will quickly be exploring those options in practice ahead of qualifying. Similar to Ampfing it is a shorter lap to Sarno and PFI and it’s layout will provide similar tyre wear. The weather is expected to be hot all weekend which should only exaggerate the problem.
It will also be the first time that the OK classes have raced at the French circuit and with most drivers potentially here for the first time Callum will be hoping to use his 2016 experience to get his first podium or win of the season!
