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KATE ON THE PACE IN STAMPEDE SERIES AT WARRNAMBOOL ABC Realestate RacingVictorian Formula 500 racer Kate Searle finished her first A-Main in her rookie season on Sunday (April 1) at Warrnambool's Sungold Stadium-Premier Speedway in the seventh round of the Russell Hayden Scaffold Hire Stampede Series. After destroying a motor in the previous round at Hamilton's Western Speedway, the ABC Realestate Racing Formula 500 Team purchased a new motor from Stephen Bell in readiness for the day meeting at Warrnambool. Searle was impressive in her opening two heats, with two second places after front row starts. In her third heat, she moved from a starting position of eighth and finished fourth, which gave her an excellent foundation heading into the A-Main. “I was really pleased with my heats, in the first heat Tim Van Ginnekin beat me on the start, but in the second heat I bet him until he got by through the turns. It was a good result in the third heat to pass some cars as well,” said Kate. The ABC Team was thrilled to learn that they were the third highest qualifier after the heats and therefore would start the final from the inside of the second row. This season is Searle's rookie season and before Sunday's event at Warrnambool, she has only qualified for one other A-Main, which was at Ballarat's Redline Raceway. The Diggers Rest racer began the Ballarat final from position two, but failed to finish. “The two finals we have made this season, we have qualified extremely well. It shows that on our night we can be fast enough. Unfortunately for a lot of this season we have struggled with mechanical issues,” said Searle. Searle raced hard during the final with the calibre of Rob Rankin, until an own mistake in turn three and four cost her multiple positions. uffed up in turn three and four while racing strongly in the top five. I had a half lose and was on the grass and consequently I dropped back to around tenth… I was quite frustrated with myself,” Kate explained. With the frustration, Searle drove in the remaining laps with more aggression and crossed the finish line in eighth place, which was the first final she has completed. After the race, Searle felt the effects of a lack of seat team aboard the ‘baby baby car'. “I was pretty buggered after the race,” Searle stated. “I reckon I'm a fit person, but I'm certainly not race fit. I've had a tough season and on some occasions I've only raced a couple of laps on a night, so I felt the lack of race fitness. “The motor was perfect on Sunday and it was great to be amongst some good competition and being competitive with them. I have to thank a few people for their help including Stephen Bell, Simon Amato and also Darren Mollenoyux and Deanne Davis for advice during the meeting,” Searle added. This weekend, the Sprintcar team of Simon Amato will be in action for the Easter Trail at Geelong's Avalon Raceway on Good Friday, Mt Gambier on Easter Saturday and Warrnambool's Sungold Stadium on Easter Saturday. The next meeting for Kate Searle will be at Ballarat's Redline Raceway on April 21 for the eighth round of the Russell Hayden Scaffold Hire Stampede Series. ABC Realestate Racing would like to thank the following sponsors for their support during season 2006-2007: |
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