LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SPENCER IN JAPAN

Reigning CIK Stars of Karting Series Pro Light (KF1) Champion Jake Spencer (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Reigning CIK Stars of Karting Series Pro Light (KF1) Champion Jake Spencer has come away from his maiden overseas event in Japan on the weekend with an enormous amount of experience.

The 21 year-old Victorian lined up against many of the top European and Asian drivers in the 30-kart grid on the famous Suzkua circuit with the Factory Kosmic team at the prestigious event.

During the heat races Spencer was caught up in a couple of incidents leaving him to start from 28th position in the pre-final, which in Spencer’s words was a “crazy race” when rain started to fall during the opening few laps. Spencer managed to steer clear of trouble to cross the line 16th, he was then elevated up to 14th when other drivers were relegated for incidents in the pre-final.

After making a strong start in the final, Spencer was running as high as eighth in the main event only to have his run to the front halted on lap 14 of the 24-lap race when he suffered an engine seizure.

Spencer’s Kosmic team-mate, Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen went on to victory ahead of Italian Damiano Fiorvanti and Argentinian Federico Panetta

What Jake Spencer had to say…
“It was somewhat of a disappointing end to what was a great weekend,” said Spencer.

“The final was my strongest race of the weekend. I managed to get up to as high as eighth during the early part of the race but the racing was out of control, with the drivers from Japan in particular attempting passing moves from nearly four or five kart lengths behind the kart in front. They don’t care if they make kart contact or lose contact with the leaders, all that they seem to care about is getting in front of the next kart!

“As the race went on I started to lose bottom end power out of the slower corners. I thought that I had overturned the low jet and it had too much fuel, so I leaned it off a little, however it turns out that it was the opposite and the engine was actually starving for fuel off the slow corners. This led to the engine seizing on lap 14, ending my race.

“I was a little bit disappointed not to get a result after putting myself in a strong position, however, that’s motorsport.

“I was amazed at the level of talent of the drivers from Europe and Japan. Almost all the drivers in the field aspire to be professional racers. Many of the European drivers rarely go to school as they race almost everyone weekend in different countries all over the world.

“They’ve all been coached and trained by teams such as CRG, Tony Kart, Kosmic and Birel from a young age and this is why they are so fast. Most of the Japanese drivers are supported by local car and tyre manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Bridgestone and Yokohama. I found this to be one of the main differences between karting in Australia and Japan, as very rarely will you see local Australian companies such as Holden or Ford Australia heavily funding younger drivers to help them make a career out of motorsport.

“The whole weekend was an amazing experience and I would love to have the opportunity to race overseas again in the future. I learnt so much through racing for the Kosmic Racing Department including how they approach the set up of the kart as well as data analysis. I can’t say enough good things about the team.

“They are an extremely professional organisation and I would highly recommend them to anyone who wishes to race overseas. I was also lucky enough to meet Roberto Robazzi who is the owner of OTK Karts (Tony Kart, Kosmic, FA Kart and Exprit). Mr Robazzi would often come over and give his opinion on how to improve the kart which was a great help.

“There are many people who I must thank for making the trip to Japan possible, firstly the Australian Karting Association who put up the prize money for me to race overseas after winning the 2011 CIK Stars of Karting Series, Remo and Sabrina Luciani for helping me organise the drive with the Kosmic Racing Department, as well as their ongoing support, Lee Hanatschek and Craig Denton who helped me organise all the required documents to race overseas including entry forms, international licences etc, the Kosmic Racing Department for their help over the weekend and my parents for flying to Japan and supporting me.”

Click below to reads Jake’s Diary from the event
Day 1 – Arrival
Day 2 – Practice Day One
Day 3 – Practice Day Two
Day 4 – Qualifying and Heat Races
Day 5 – Finals Day