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Mackenzie Taylor wins first ever Silver Cup
Published by Bas Kaligis 10 november 2008 14:43 - Print | | After just a very few race meetings in the KF2 category, Mackenzie Taylor won the inaugural Silver Cup overall at Sarno yesterday (10 November). The Ricky Flynn Motorsport driver held the points advantage from the first round (held at La Conca the previous weekend) and his metronomic consistency at the Neapolitan track saw him take the title.
“I was after good results and was reasonably optimistic going into the meeting. That said, the last time I raced at Sarno was in (KF3) in the WSK and it was a weekend to forget. I tried to make up for that and knew that I needed decent points and to finish all the races if I was to win overall.”
The 15-year old was pipped to pole position in timed qualifying by his team-mate, Robert Foster-Jones on the last lap of the session and would line up alongside him on the start-line for both the heats.
“I was happy with the first race” Mackenzie explained afterwards. “Rob and I pulled away from everyone else and opened a massive gap (over the chasing Anniello Smarrazzo). Rob took the win and I sat behind him to take 2nd.”
Mackenzie repeated this in the following heat, as the pair again locked-out the front row of the grid for the first of the two points-scoring finals.
Things didn’t quite go to plan as Smarrazzo squeezed his way past in the opening stages of the pre-final. Mackenzie took third, and knew that he’d dropped points in the title chase to the Italian - but calmly said, “It wasn’t a big problem.”
More concerning, was Smarrazzo’s pace. He had been the fastest man in the pre-final and he again used his superior pace to good effect in the main final.
“I got a good start and followed Rob into the first corner. I spent the first few laps tucked in behind him and we pulled five or six kart lengths away from the field. But as the race progressed, Smarrazzo started to catch us and he passed me at a hairpin. I had to push hard to keep in touch but on the last lap, Rob was defending a corner and Smarrazzo hit him wide. He won with Rob in 2nd and me right on their bumpers in 3rd.”
As the Catanian and his team celebrated in parc ferme, the stewards were investigating his move on Foster-Jones. Half an hour later, team boss Ricky Flynn informed his drivers of their decision – Smarrazzo had been disqualified for contact driving thus promoting Mackenzie into 2nd place.
Mackenzie said, “I’m very happy. To win my first KF2 Championship in just four races is fantastic and has set us up for a good year (in 2009). I would like to thank Ricky, my mechanic Neil (Doran) and Ole (Haugard of One Engines) for all their hard work and giving me the equipment to do the job.”
Visit Mackenzie’s website - www.mackenzietaylor.co.uk - to follow his fortunes throughout the rest of the 2008 season. |
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