Josh White is preparing for this weekends Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal (1/2 December). The Coles Racing star had expected to be at home in Yorkshire, but a surprise phone call means he will now compete in the biggest event of his career.
It is fantastic news, just incredible! Josh said prior to leaving for Portimao on the Algarve. I really expected to be watching the racing at home on the internet, but now Im making my world championship debut!
Although he finished an excellent 4th overall in this summers Euro Max Challenge series, the Welcome to Yorkshire ambassador missed the cut for automatic qualification for Portimao by just one place. Similarly, at the European seasons closing race, the International Openheld at Zuera, near Zaragozaa superb performance ended in heartbreak, as Josh explains: The International Open represented my last real chance to qualify for the Worlds and at first, it was all going well. I was tenth fastest in timed qualifying and took a 4th and 2nd in the two heats. This put me 6th on the grid for the first final, but just after the start I was smashed off the circuit. I managed to get back onto the track at the back of the field and came back through to 16th.
Starting from the 8th row for the main final, White knew that he would have to produce a very special performance and cross the finishing line in 3rd place, or higher, to book his place in Portugal - at the event many refer to as the World Finals due to its global entry and status.
I was so elated. I could hardly believe I had managed to do it and I was celebrating like Id just scored the winning goal that put Leeds through to the Champions League final when an official told me that I had been given a penalty for unfair driving. It felt so wrong because Id been deliberately run off the track in the earlier race and then, after a slight bit of contact as I tried to pass another driver, I was penalised by ten seconds. This put me well down the order and out of the Grand Finals.
It was several days after the event when Joshs father, Nick, received a phone from series administrator Lynn Guidel and the news took him by surprise: It was great - astonishing really. Lynn explained that Joshs name had been put down as first reserve for the World Finals by virtue of him finishing 4th overall in the Euro Max Challenge and due to another driver unable to make it, would he like to attend? Well, there was a very short answer to that!
Josh says this is the race every driver wants to qualify for: At the beginning of the season, the Grand Finals was on my list of key targets. All year long Ive remained focused on achieving that goal and at times, it has felt like Fate has tried to prevent me. Ive had awful luck but never given up. Now Ive had an amazing stroke of luck and I hope that it stays with me, all the way to next Sunday afternoon!
