Keeping Positive Momentum

Karting Cup West Round 1 Race Report

​Another strong performance by Deven Grabko saw him go one better than his 2022 debut result a week ago. Crossing the line in 9th position in the Final of the first round of the Karting Cup West Championship, it has to be marked down as another successful race weekend, even if both he and the team felt there was more that could have been achieved.

Round one was held at the Borås Motorpark Karting Circuit, in Svaneholm, Sweden. This is a tricky 1.1km track with big elevation changes in the 2nd sector, climbing uphill on a double apex turn 5 and 6 combo and then looping back down again on the long turn 7, and a niggling little chicane at the final turns 14 and 15 coming out onto the start/finish straight.

Last year at this track, the team had such a hard time with setup and grip, Deven was wallowing at the back of the field despite his best efforts. This year the team and the driver were much more prepared, and went into the free practice day looking towards the front of the field instead of the back.

The weather was again stellar for racing on both the Saturday Practice Day and Sunday Race Day. Partly sunny and not too warm, with almost no wind to speak of. After a very productive practice day on Saturday It was early bedtime and focus on the coming qualifying sessions.

​Another special touch was the addition of the American Flag at the Circuit, a really nice gesture from the host club, FMCK Borås, as Grabko GP is the only US entry in the series. Thank you!

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Sunday Free Practice 1 - 7 minutes | Did Not Finish
Really sub-optimal start to the day, that unfortunately would set the tone for the rest of the sessions. A double mechanical failure of both the rear left spoiler nut and a chain guard bolt right on the out lap meant there was not even one flying lap for Deven as he was forced to limp home into the pits on orange and black flags. No useful data at all for the team and no getting into the groove for our driver.

Sunday Free Practice Session 2 - 7 minutes | P11
Now on new tires to scrub them off before qualifying and check air pressure data on the other set of wheels, Deven never really was able to get the lead out and stretch his legs. Borås is a notoriously difficult track to overtake on, and a bit of naiveté on Deven’s part saw him stuck behind slower traffic for most of the session and couldn’t really show his true pace. These are the small preparations that the team lacked this weekend that hurt us in the long run during the race day.

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Qualifying Session - 7 minutes | P8
The team got the pit release timing right this time, and Deven came out and was able to drive at his own pace. Unfortunately lack of good tire pressure and engine setting data due to the compromised practice session running meant that the team hadn’t been able to nail down optimal setup. This combined with the short session time gave Deven a challenge. He was up for it though, and climbed his way up to 8th spot in the end, holding 6th until the last minute in the session when he just got pipped at the end. So a 4th row starting spot for the two heat races to come.

Heat Race 1 - 10 laps | Did Not Finish
Heartbreak at the final corner of the final lap. Deven made a nice clean aggressive start, maintaining his 8th position through the hairy first sector race start jostling, He then stretched out his legs, and was really on the pace with those ahead. Losing a place to an out of place and lightning fast Max Emanuelsson, who had been one of those tipped for pole but had mechanical issues in qualifying, he hung well onto the back of his and rode that wave up to the two karts ahead, and had several laps of really hard, clean and exciting racing culminating in a daring turn passing attempt where he momentarily took two positions at once. He had to settle for gaining just the one place though as he out broke himself a bit, but went on the gain that place in the final lap at the same spot. Deven was on his way to P7, and had it in the bag when disaster struck. On the last corner of the last lap, a failed ignition cabled caused a short circuit and killed the engine. The kart stopped only meters from the finish line.

Heat Race 2 - 10 Laps | P9
For this race, Deven lost out a bit on the start, losing one position almost immediately. An Engine change between races necessitated by the failure in the previous heat meant that the practice engine was being used. Noticeably, Deven couldn’t quite get up the turn 5-6 hill as strongly and was also losing out at the end of the front straight, and couldn’t get in position to make overtakes like he had been able to do in the first race. He eventually lost a bit of ground to the small group of two karts ahead, but easily distanced himself from the trailing pack. Ended a much more satisfactory P9, but still ruing what could have been going into the Final.

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Feature Final - 16 Laps | Started P11 
Due to the first heat DNF, Deven slotted into position 11 on the starting grid for the Feature Final. He would have a lot of work to do if we were to make any impact on the race, which was a much longer distance. Normally this would have been a good thing, giving Deven time to make up positions. Now though, with the race engine out of commission, he knew he would have an uphill battle and the start of the race would be extra important.

He made an excellent start, muscling his way into the inside of the first turn 2 hairpin, and made up 2 positions right away as they came to the uphill turn 5-6 complex. Now in 9th, he zeroed in his focus on the next two ahead that he had been battling with all day long. Deven drove and excellent first stint, gaining on those ahead, and leaving the trailing pack behind him, but again succumbed to a tendency to overdrive in the middle stint to make up lost ground. This, combined with the compromised equipment he had to deal with, meant a lonely race. He was not able to quite hook up to the next group, and then ran out of laps as he refocused in the closing phases.

Given the bad luck with the mechanical failures we had, we have to be pleased with P9, even though we knew there was more there to be taken today. It is another top 10 finish in another national series, and we can build on this much stronger start to the season. Deven is disappointed, but he shouldn’t be at this stage. We have a lot of lessons to take from this, and will be back even stronger next time."
~ Official Team Statement

It was frustrating. I knew I was faster, but never got to show it and then made too many mistakes in the Final after a good start. Gotta get my focus back for the next round in Lidköping.”
~ Deven Grabko

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As always, a very special thanks to LK Racing and the Intrepid Driver Program Sweden for the chance to drive with a great chassis and a great set of teammates, not only drivers, but coaches, mechanics, parents, and siblings as well, and also Uddevalla Kartingklubb - a special club to be a part of.

Also a huge shout out to our sponsors and partners, The Techno Creatives, Improx Customs, Profil #461, Dumpling X, Freem Sweden, Minus 273, Intrepid Kart, and Zamp Helmets EU, - without you all we wouldn’t be out here chasing our dreams!