The junior champion of the Island Karting Club, Lucas Pace is racing at the interesting 1250 metre long circuit La Conca in Muro Leccese, Italy, between Wednesday and Sunday, November 17 to 21.
In addition to the main support of his family’s business, DOM Transport Ltd., as his official sponsor, Lucas has suceeded to gather some assistance from another set of part sponsors, including Feel Lounge, D1 Water Sports, Alfsons Enterpries Limited, Logografix Signs, Yellow Fun Water Sports, and Aquani.
Non qualifying practice will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, while the qualifying heats take place on Friday and Saturday. The so-called second chance race will also be held on Saturday. This race is provided for those drivers who do not qualify among the front runners in the heats and it gives them the opportunity to try again and possibly reach the pre-final. The pre-final and final races will be held on Sunday, November 21.
A total of 72 drivers from around the world will be competing in the junior race. These will be divided into four groups so that each group will have the opportunity to race in 3 different qualifying heats. A year ago at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, Lucas found himself in Group C, and he participated in the heats made up of groups A and C, C and D, and B and C. 36 drivers take part in each if these qualifying heats of 8 laps, and each driver scores points according to his finishing position. The points of the 3 heats are then added.
Unfortunately, a year ago Lucas did not do well in his second qualifying heat when he completed only two laps, after finishing in the 25th position among 36 drivers in his first heat. In the third and final heat he did even better by placing 22nd. The second heat ruined his performance, and the total points accumulated were not enough for him to get into the second chance race.
Ironically, Lucas registered his fastest lap of 1 minute 2.596 seconds at a speed of 74.1 km per hour during the qualifying practice, and his fastest lap in the third heat was 0.001 seconds slower! It is hoped that after the additional experience gained during this year, the young Maltese driver will perform better, and at least take part in the second chance race if not the pre-final or final race. For these races, Lucas needs only to take with him his racing suit, gloves and helmet, because the karts are provided by the organizers.
In theory all drivers will have the same type of equipment, but it is not known what a difference the settings might make in practice. This year everything will of course be different. The track and location are different, and many of the competitors might be different as some might not have won their country’s junior championship, or graduated to the senior class.
One thing is ceratin. The competition is going to be very tough, and whatever the result Lucas obtains, it will be a good learning experience, if he succeeds to keep a cool head under pressure. He needs to remain calm even if he is bullied, and refrain from any retaliation in such a crowded field. Every fraction of a second counts.
Unfortunately, Malta’s senior champion has not been invited because Malta is a small country! Only one driver has been invited irrespective of the different classes! Article 3.7.1 of the supplementary regulations whereby the overall winner of each national class is qualified to take part in this event, has not been respected. A formal complaint has been submitted to the FIA’s International Karting Commission, and the national sporting authorities of the host countries of the organizer and the event.
It appears that commercial considerations have been given more weight than the sporting criteria by the organizer. The organiser will take the submissions made in consideration for future modifications of the series layout. We shall wait and see. The motor sports community in Malta wishes Lucas the best of luck and success at La Conca.