Hawksport driver on podium in first KF2 race
Daniel Lloyd won a legion of new fans with a scintillating drive to 3rd place - on his debut in the KF2 class - at the first round of the prestigious Winter Series at PFi (4 November).
The 15-year old – who previously raced in the Junior Rotax category - was the talk of the paddock after driving from 12th on the grid to 3rd and beating many, more experienced drivers in the process.
Daniel says: “I’m over the moon. Before the weekend, I was hoping it would be quite good but I’m gobsmacked at how it really went.”
Daniel’s surprise is all the more understandable when you consider that things hadn’t gone quite to plan in his first race -“I’d started 6th on the grid and had got up to 5th, then 3rd a few laps later and then 2nd. I was running side by side with the leader on the last lap, when he suddenly turned in on me – on the straight”. Daniel rejoined the circuit to take the chequered flag down in 18th place.
In his next heat, Daniel proved his status as a ‘pass master’ by overtaking 17 drivers to finish in 5th - and clocked the fastest lap on the way. This gave him enough points to start from the 6th row of the grid for the final.
At the start, Daniel got away cleanly, managing to avoid the carnage and quickly began to move up the order. After just two laps he’d clawed his way up to 9th place. One lap later, he was 8th. On lap 5, the Hawksport driver was up to 6th, after passing two karts in as many corners. He attacked and again - in a stunning late-breaking manoeuvre - passed two karts in once corner. Moments later, Daniel had taken 3rd place and was bearing down on the man in 2nd (Craig Breen). On the last lap, and clearly thinking that 2nd place was on, Lloyd attacked again – posting the fastest lap of the race. But despite the encouragement of the grandstand, Daniel simply ran out of time and remained in 3rd. Nevertheless, he’d made a big impression - so much so, that visiting Italian engine specialist, Franco Drudi was moved to congratulate Daniel on his crowd-pleasing drive.
Daniel says of his performance: “I said last week that I thought we could surprise a few people but I have to say, even I’m a bit shocked with 3rd place. I think with a few more laps, I could’ve caught and maybe passed Craig. But what a start?! I know its early days yet and I shouldn’t get too carried away but…bring on the next round!” Daniel adds; “I want to say a massive ‘thanks’ to Gordy (Finlayson at GFR) for some mega engines, Franco at TM and of course, Ian Hawks (boss of Hawksport) who set my kart up brilliantly”.
The second round of the Winter Series will be at Shenington, Oxfordshire on 2 December.
To follow Daniel’s progress throughout the rest of the season - visit www.daniellloydkarting.com |
