Exhale Sponsored Lee Henderson Racing tells us about his latest performance in DMAX RD4

Chasing down more silverware this year after retaining the Heavyweight Championship title he had won over three consecutive years, Lee has changed his focus and is now chasing success in other areas with the aims of gaining his well deserved place amongst the karting worlds elite. He has just updated us on his latest race day in the DMAX RD4 which was held at his home ground Ellough Park:

"In a new fleet of karts it was amazing to have the opportunity to race DMAX once again and with the heats being held on my home turf I felt I was well placed to provide a strong performance."

"Mr DMAX, Jim Graham gave the briefing before practice got underway. I was keeping pace with the top guys which made me feel pretty confident, but of course it is the race that counts and not the practice laps."

"In heat 1 I started mid pack in 7th. There was a lot of frantic pushing and shoving during which I came off badly and dropped into last place. In front of me Tomasz Zaustowicz spun off and with nowhere to go I hit the front of his kart, knocking him back into the right direction but cost me more precious time. The race progressed and I finished 10th on track."

"Jim called everyone around and upset with the standards of driving he gave us some well deserved hair-dryer treatment, announcing 60 second penalties for three drivers. This had the effect of promoting me to 7th. Not the best way to gain positions I grant you."

"In heat two I started in pole position and as the lights turned to green I slotted in front of Chris Carter who was in 2nd. With a clean run through turn one, my focus was solely on putting in consistent laps and hitting every apex. By around halfway, I’d built up a healthy lead, but by no means was the job complete."

"The two drivers behind me got embroiled in a battle for 2nd which meant they had taken their eyes off me and were not focussing on closing the gap. Going into the final lap I had a 2 second lead. Losing 0.3 of a second in the final lap I managed to hold on and win by 1.7 seconds. My victory was sweet, and I was proud to know that my children were present on the day and saw their Daddy take the win."

"In my final heat I was starting in last place, 14th and with the race underway, again there was a lot of pushing and shoving. I try to avoid the bumping and focus on keeping clean and consistent and after the first laps were behind me I found myself in 7th chasing down David Vincent."

"Right on his bumper during the final two laps, I had my own battle and going into turn 1 of the final lap, misreading how much he was braking I got myself entangled with his bumper pushing him wide on the exit. Waving David back in place immediately as is the gentlemanly thing to do, understandably he was not best pleased with me. Underway again, in turn 10 I made an attempt to drive around the outside, but I had nowhere to go and had to settle for 7th place. It was I think the messiest race of my career and one in which I was not using my head!"

"The results of all heats put me in 3rd position for the final and I was extremely nervous as we set off and allowed those nerves to get the better of me. As we entered into turn two I locked brakes and went into a spin which put in in dead last. The red mist descended, I was so angry with myself and pushed on hard, passing every kart in my sight and found myself closing down the battle between Jamie Pender and Tomasz Zaustowicz, but I’d left myself with way to much to do and finished in 5th."

"Not where I’d hoped to be, but the day showed me that not only could I keep pace with the top guys in the class, I could also claw my way back as I did in the final when I had to get from last to fifth."

"The day's results have forced a few changes to my racing calendar; I will be competing in the next three rounds of the DMAX which will be in Milton Keynes, Rye House and Sanddown, then will return to Club 100 at Whilton Mill, Rye House and Buckmore Park."