'Fairground' German circuit suits a much happier Robert

GUERNSEY kart driver Greg Robert's long trip to Germany for the final round of the CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship proved worthwhile. The 50-year-old chartered accountant finished in a creditable 22nd position overall on the Sachsenring circuit, which was hosting superkart racing for the first time.

His latest escapade was a welcome surprise after disappointing engine performances at Magny Cours and Assen.

He fitted new carburettors which solved previous problems encountered with a lack of top speed in fast sections of circuits.

But nothing is ever easy with kart racing and he had to overcome others during two practice sessions.

'The circuit can only be described as like a fairground ride as it has many hills and corners. Many of the corners are on blind crests of the hills and the circuit was exciting to drive,' said Robert.

More aggressive drivers found that getting tyres to last a whole practice or qualifying session, let alone a race, proved to be their biggest obstacle.

Fortunately for Robert his smoother driving style meant that was not an issue.

He qualified for the two races in 43rd position out of 52 on the grid - each was 14 laps of the 3.645-mile circuit.

Race one went without incident and for the first time all weekend he managed to last the whole session and mechanical failures, driver errors and tyre problems for other drivers meant he finished in 24th place - his best result of the season.

In race two an incident on the first corner took out a few drivers but he managed to find a route through the debris and was involved in a battle with four other karts, changing position several times a lap.

When a German driver tried an overtaking manoeuvre on the last corner of the circuit after eight laps, a collision occurred and his kart's nose cone was all but destroyed and he lost two places.

But he soon resumed battle and when the last lap indicator came out he decided he was not going to be content with finishing behind another German driver and two corners from the end he attempted a 'do or die' manoeuvre on the outside.

'Unfortunately a lack of downforce due to the broken nose cone, tyres that were now past their best, and being off the racing line meant that I ran out of circuit and the move failed,' said Robert.

'Had the move come off I would have crossed the line in 22nd place which would have been my best ever European result but I ended up being classified 22nd.'

'Despite all my traumas of the weekend it was an incredible racing experience and very enjoyable, despite the 14 hours drive each way, and the thoughts are now into what to do next season,' he said.

His next big decision is whether to participate in another European Championship season or attend some British Championship rounds.