Armstrong Racing

Elliot was interviewed, along with Dom and Zoe, over the weekend as he competed in the first round of the National Series.

His weekend didn't start off to well as he qualified 25th so had to start from 25th for the races. However he raced so well ending up 7th in the final.

Check out the video.

Onboard footage from Elliot

Little Liam Lawsons here to replace Formula 1 hacks! A little rain can’t stop their need for speed! Reporter Hesher is at the City of Sails KartStars series, where Cadet ROK & Vortex MiniROK racers are leaving ...

Top Half Rnd 2 Auckland

Race 1 I started 26th and finished 8th which was amazing as I was also one of the fastest on track.

Race 2 I started 7th but got hit and dropped back to 15th but managed to drove back up to 10th which was good but unfortunate.

Race 3 I started 2nd but got spun at turn one which meant I dropped to 11th then 2 laps later I got spun and dropped to 29th managing to make it back to 21st by the end of the race which was a bummer.

Race 4 I started 33rd and had made my way to 13th by lap 6 but 2 laps later I got hit and spun again dropping me to 27th this time I only managed to drive back to 22nd even thought the pace was really good.

With my unfortunate crash in the heats I started 13th which was okay considering my results and 5 laps I was already in 5th but the people in 4th where just to far for me to catch even though I was gaining drastically so I ended 5th in the final and 10th in the points.

Top Half Rnd 1

Race one I started 22nd and at the start I got up to 19th but I couldn't see a yellow flag due to the rain so I got a 10 seconds penalty for passing under yellow. Without the penalty I got 8th, with the penalty I got 14th which was unlucky.

Race 2 I started 16th and drove to eighth, which was a really good drive.

Race 3 I started 4th and got to first by turn 2, but then the virtual safety kart came out. I drove the safety kart great, then after the start, I led until 3 laps to go. When Zach passed me, I ended up second that Race, which was a good result.

Race 4 I started 35th.The kart felt a little off but I still drove to 18th, which is a lot of positions gained.

In the final I started 4th but in the first corner chaos I got hit and half spun and dropped to 15th, but ended driving back to 7th which put me 3rd equal for the weekend with Mathew Fell.

All round it was a good weekend with a lot of passes and hope to continue this form for the rest of Top Half. And great shots from Shutter Media

Kartstars Round 5 practice was wet on Friday, but I managed a few runs. Unfortunately, my speed was lacking, and I struggled to keep up with the pace, but with a talk with Daniel and dad, I got a bit better in the last run.

The next day, in qualifying, it was still wet, and I was still a bit off the pace qualifying 10th, which was alright.

Race 1 it was dry in a few bits but still on wets. I dropped a bit of positions down to 14th but made my way back up to 8th, and I was also 5th fastest.

Race 2 it was wetter and no dryline, and I spun on the warm-up lap 😔 and was just slow. Also, I had not much turn in, so I kept on sliding everywhere but somehow ended up P12 from last.

Race 3 It was wet tires with a dry line. I started P7 somehow and dropped a few spots on the first lap down to the 11th but made my way up to P5, and on the last lap, the last corner, someone spun on front of me putting me P4.

The final I was starting of P5 and we were on green slicks and I didn't really warm up my tires enough which means I was understeery in the first few laps and then the kart came on but was in 6th and to far back to catch 5th even though I was gaining drastically so ended 6th and 7th in kartstars by 11 points.

Auckland Clubday

Practice we were lacking pace but had a good night's sleep and woke up early next morning for quilfying as it was CIK format.

After a good quili putting it on pole the first we got the tyre pressures wrong so it took to long to come on.

Then in heat two I wasing going for a pass for the lead and locked up so finished last.

Pre Final I started forth had a good battle and ended up P3.

Starting P3 for the final P2 jumped the start then locked up and spun so I was instantly in P2 then after a very good battle switching positions every lap with Dominic Dale Racing he just knocked me over the line with a pass on the last lap but I was quickest in the final. So overall good weekend ended up P3.

P3 in Palmester North

Had a bad start to the weekend being .9 off the fastest all day and didn't know what the problem was so we scrubbed in tyres to see if that would work but the chain fell off in lap 4 so didn't get to see the difference.

So, I went into qualifying the next day, hoping for around the 15th without any information, but pulled an amazing lap to put us in P3. First heat the start went amazing.

I was alongside the leader heading into turn 2 but hadn't raced in the wet, so I backed out. Then, I had a good pace but ended up P 8.

The second heat had a good start and pace throughout the race and got P5.

Then, on Sunday, we were first up, and I had a bad start getting shunted, so I dropped a bit and went into turn. 2 got hit from behind and spun. After that, the brakes were locked on but ended up P11.

Going into the pre-final, I was starting P6 and had an amazing start but got sandwiched and dropped off but kept a good pace and ended P6.

Didn't have too high expectations going into the Final starting P6 had a wonderful start got to P4 and then held position then a false virtual safety kart happened and it was a big mix. Then at the restart, my tyres were cold and I dropped off a bunch and dropped to P9. Then with a few laps to go my kart came on and started moving up I was in P7 with 2 laps to go and I was 1.5 seconds behind P6 it looked like my trophy dreams were over then P3 started blocking I gained the time I lost and then passed for P6, then 2 corners later moved to P5 than on the last lap at turn 2 made a move to put me P4 but P3 was 2 secs a head from me I crossed the line P4 but the leader got a 10sec penalty so ended up P3.

More to come

The road trip to the South Island for the NZ karting nationals begins.

Both Owen and Elliot competed in the NZ Karting Grand Prix at Kartsport Hamilton over the weekend.

Testing was on Friday and it was all about trying to find kart setup. With the help of Daniel Bray at N-Zed Motorsport we got a setup for Owen in the last practice session. This was replicated with Elliot taking into account the different classes and weight they run in.

Owen went out for qualifying on Saturday morning and qualified 2nd. This was an outstanding success for him as qualifying has been a sticking point in the past, and this event had all the best in NZ.

Elliot was up next and had a hard run qualifying in 12th.

Owen heat results backed up the qualifying with a 2nd, 2nd, and 1st.

Elliot had a hard 1st race ending up in 18th and then got 9th in race 2.

The pre-final came up for Owen starting off pole. Great start and lead the race until lap 7 (of 15) when his right rear tyre started to deflate. Trying to pilot a kart at 90 kmh with a complete flat tyre was very hard and Owen dropped back through the field but still finished - what an effort.

Elliots pre-final he started in 14th and battled all race to end up 11th.

Due to Owens results in the heats he only dropped to 5th for starting the final. And what a start to the final he had coming out of the 2nd corner in 2nd. Epic start to the final and Owen battled for 18 laps (of 20) with Braxton Kraayvanger Motorsport and Luke McMillan for 2nd/3rd/4th spot with all of them pushing hard. Unfortunately with 2 laps to go, and sitting in 2nd, 2 karts into one corner doesn't work and Owen spun dropping back to 13th for the final. He was devastated.

Elliot drove well for the final battling and moving up and moving back to finally finish in 10th. A commendable result with the best in NZ in the field however he was a little disappointed as he knew he could have done better.

So all in all a fantastic weekend with Owen showing that he can compete and the front on his class in NZ. Not a single race he was not battling and was under pressure every lap for all races and handled the pressure so well, considering this was the first time at the front in a National Event.

A big shout out to the support that we received over the weekend, so many competitors and parents commending Owen on his driving. The cheer from the dummy grid when he won heat 3 was epic.

Special mention to Daniel Bray N-Zed Motorsport - that setup lit the kart up, Andrew Edmondson for all the support and advice (so many questions answered over months of support), Todd Phillips - wicked is all I can say ;-), Daniel Dominic Dale Racing - always there to help, that testing we did led the way to changes, Peter Armstrong ,Aaron Armstrong, Kelly Wilkings, and a very special visit from Rebekah - can't be there without family support - the boys love having you at the track, and last but definitely not least Sarah Skoggard for all the support, food, and coaching advice, couldn't do it without you.

Motorsport huh? Who would do it. Well both boys definitely love it so we keep going back. The highs are amazing and the lows low.

The weekend just gone saw the boys back at their club for a club day. It’s been few and far between due to the big events they have been attending. Saturday practice was amazing, the boys loving it having fun with their mates and such a great atmosphere.

Sunday race day and same atmosphere and enthusiasm going into it. Elliot up first and took the win, Owen next and got 4th. We have been plying with some setup and moving in the right direction, times were good.

Next Elliot took the win again and Owen 4th with improving times.

Then the wheels fell off you could say, Elliot sitting 3rd and both him and Dominic Dale Racing (2nd) going for the pass for 1st, Dom to inside so Elliot looked at outside. 1st spot saw Dom and knew the pass was happening so moved towards outside so Elliot moved back to go inside but clipped the kart just at the wrong spot. Up and over he went doing a full 360 and landing upside down with the kart on him. Elliot is ok and doing fine, just a sore shoulder.

Owen who was having lunch and watching dropped his chips (fries for NA family), jumped the fence l, was and first on scene but couldn’t lift the kart, next quite a few parents. I have to say thanks to all who ran to help, so appreciated. I’ve never ran so fast in my life either. Not something you want to see.

Elliot was then out for the day. Owen was very upset but went up for his next race, thanks so much to Dominic Dale Racing getting him to the grid while I was with Elliot. Owen raced a great race and came in 3rd. Next was his final and got 4th so a great days racing for Owen and amazing to get into the headspace to race on.

Thanks to all who helped, followed up on Elliot, offered help. It’s amazing the support. I’ve had calls and messages from all over the country, it’s a great racing community.

Elliot’s at school today and looking forward to the last round of top half next weekend.

Well Auckland did not disappoint with the typical Auckland weather with rain sun rain. It made it for a tricky weekend.

Owen had a tough run, first race was wet and he was starting down the back. Drive well and was 5th fastest on track. 2nd race and same again but he got turned around and kart stopped. We got it started but he was 2 laps down but still managed to make up places. 3rd race and sun so on slicks, got 6th but out of the races probably his worst drive. 4th race and the keyway fell out of the sprocket so DNF. The final saw him start 21st and finish 13th so a good drive.

With Elliot the focus was continuing the form leading into the event. First race started 4th and came first in tricky conditions. Great patient drive and battle to take the win. 2nd race started 19th and was moving up the field when hit from behind. In the rain this spun him and another competitor couldn’t get out of the way and hit his front bumper pushing it back, which results in an automatic 5 second penalty. He drove back from last again to 10th but dropped to 13th with the penalty. 3rd race and 4th race for him 4th in both races (starting 8th and 11th).

Come the final and he was 6 points (that means has to make 6 positions on first to equal them on points) of the lead and sitting in 4th. I told him all you can is win and what happens to others is outside your control. Just before the race the skies opened up so furiously changing from dry to wet setup, got most done but not ideal. Thanks to Warren Crowther, Andrew, Nathan, Aaron Armstrong, Peter Armstrong for all the help.

Elliot put in a great performance with patience in the tricky conditions. Got to 3rd on the first lap, 2nd on the 5th lap and 1st on the 12th lap (out of 15). And held on for the win even with some last lap pressure.

This put Elliot in 2nd overall and if it wasn’t for the race 2 penalty would have been 1st but that’s Motorsport.

Congrats Toby Harper Racing for the overall win, you drove so well all day and the battles were great, Benji Bellamy Racing for the 3rd, Dominic Dale Racing as tough day but the battles are epic.

Thanks to Daniel Bray N-Zed Motorsport the kart and engine are epic.

Awesome photo of the cadet lineup by Bella Tahu