Charity karting practice is ‘go go go!’

The Inside Line’s first practice session ahead of the McRae Vision Charity Karting Grand Prix Challenge was a close run affair, with a tie-break used to split the front runners at the head of the time sheets.

Six Team TIL drivers hit the track at Scotkart Cambuslang in a bid to start learning the circuit which will host the two hour endurance charity karting event on June 9, 2011.

Unfortunately TIL’s very own Lady Penelope, Rachel Cavers, was ruled out due to injury - having sustained a gashed hand in a freak bathroom incident the previous day (long story, ask her!).

However, those who did make it to the track were raring to go for the two 15 minute practice sessions. It all started smoothly enough until Willie Paterson brought out the red flag after snapping the chain on his kart, while ‘Dangerous’ David Bennie then received the first of his (many) black and white flag warnings for trying to unceremoniously fire Willie off the track once he had switched to a new machine and the session was restarted. It was Gavin Miller who was the quickest out of the blocks in the opening run though, keeping his nose clean and avoiding trouble to post one of the quickest times on the track that day.

Session number two saw the yellow flag deployed regularly as a couple of non TIL drivers were added to the field and it all got a very competitive. Dangerous Dave once again received a warning due to his aggressive driving style, with young Craig Paterson also showing a ruthless streak but (somehow) managing to avoid a similar fate. Willie Paterson and Ian Mitchell both brought their lap times down, while Gavin Miller once again showed consistent pace. However, it was Graeme Cleland that clocked the fastest lap in the second session - despite having to pit to jump into another kart after his first one developed a misfire – and amazingly his time was exactly the same as that posted by Miller in the first heat.

That meant the top spot was decided on a tie breaker using the drivers’ second fastest laps, and Miller edged it by mere fractions of a second. He took home a special edition ‘Hot Wheels’ Easter Egg, complete with model cars, for his efforts - as well as bragging rights in the office until the next practice.

Only five places are available on the team for the McRae Vision Charity Karting Grand Prix, and with two well-known guest drivers already confirmed (to add some real pace!) the rest of the staff will have to battle hard at the remaining warm up sessions to prove they deserve a slot in the starting line up.

Please help The Inside Line raise money for McRae Vision by donating online or sending a cheque to the head office address on the contact page.

If you would like to join Team TIL at the next practice for a bit of fun then email info@the-inside-line.co.uk

Thanks for your support.

Free Practice 1 - Final Classification

1^st Gavin Miller 36.29 (wins on 2nd fastest lap tie breaker)

2^nd Graeme Cleland 36.29

3^rd David Bennie 37.09

4^th Willie Paterson 37.51

5^th Craig Paterson 37.52

6^th Ian Mitchell 39.65

Gavin gives it 'the finger' in tribute to Sebastien Vettel