The opening round of the 2014 Euro Max Challenge at Genk (5/6 April) saw Strawberry Racing’s Guan Yu Zhou and Joseph Reilly share the spoils in Senior Max, whilst Dean MacDonald starred on his international debut in the Junior category.Zhou and Joseph Reilly share the spoils in Senior Max, whilst Dean MacDonald starred on his international debut in the Junior category.
It was to be a bitter-sweet weekend for the reigning Euro and Winter Cup champions in Junior Max. An entry of 70 competitors was always going to make tough going for Strawberry’s youngsters, which several of the team found to be true.
In contrast, Dean MacDonald took to the European style of racing with aplomb. Having taken a brace of 2nd-places finishes in his heats, he qualified for the pre-final in 4th place and duly crossed the finishing line in P2 again. In the main final, MacDonald stayed out of trouble to hold onto his starting position - but didn’t quite have the pace to match the winner.
“It was a great performance,” said Strawberry Racing Team Manager, Warwick Ringham. “Considering that it was his first race abroad he did really well. The other boys showed good speed throughout the weekend, but for one reason or another, couldn’t translate their pace into better results. Still, they’re young and fairly inexperienced so I view the Junior team as a work in progress.”
Overturning a difficult time in qualifying with a series of excellent performances in the heats, Joseph Reilly, Max Aitken and 2013 Junior Euro Champion Guan Yu Zhou had put themselves back into contention for glory in the finals.
Guan Yu stormed to victory from pole, chased home by Joseph, who had stolen a march on his rivals right from the start. Brett Ward also put in an excellent shift at the wheel of his Tony Kart EVK with Cream-prepared motor, going from 22nd to 7th.
Zhou led the main final for much of its 16 laps, but was eventually muscled aside by Reilly and former Strawberry driver, Ed Brand. A terrific scrap developed as the chequered flag was readied and it was Joseph who received it first, followed by Guan Yu who had wriggled past Ed on the last lap. Jessica Backman had chipped away throughout the two finals and was rewarded with a laudable 12th place, having been 40th after timed qualifying.
“Joseph and Guan Yu were outstanding,” affirmed Ringham. “Brett’s chain snapped on the formation lap of the main final but, up to that point, he had been really good. Jessica was a little race-rusty but showed her pace and ability to pass when she found her groove. Max’s hard work was undone with crashes in each of the finals; otherwise he would have been among the front-runners.”
Much was expected of new signing Sean Babington, especially after he emphasized his star billing with the fastest lap in qualifying. However, he would find himself mid-grid for Sunday’s first final, two places behind his Swedish team-mate, Andreas Backman.
The pair carved up the order to claim 3rd and 7th at the close of the pre-final but disaster followed for Sean in the feature race. Smashed off the start, he was eventually classified in a lowly 29th place with Andreas faring better and holding on to his 7th spot all the way to the flag in a star-studded field.
“DD2 is so competitive now,” Warwick observed. “The manufacturers are bringing in experienced drivers, some of whom are world champions. Andreas has the speed to go toe-toe with them but needs to be more forceful in their company. Sean was simply the victim of a racing incident - he’ll bounce back.”
