Gollin Demonstrates the Highs and Lows of Motorsport in one Weekend
The most competitive race of the season to date beckoned as 34 of Britain’s top Senior Rotax drivers took to the Whilton Mill circuit in Northamptonshire for the largest race of 2011 so far. Such was the competition that 6 of last years seeded drivers had entered, along with the lap record holder and other fast Junior Max graduates. This was to be Josh’s first race since October and his first Senior Max race on home soil (having previously taken part in the International Open in Spain).
Testing went well for Gollin and AIM Motorsport; and in the first 5 sessions Josh was very close to the pace. He made the decision himself to make a minor yet radical set-up change to the kart for the final session and posted the fastest time. This change was adopted by the team for racing the following day.
In the first 7 lap heat Josh started in 30th position; making an excellent get-away – after the best first lap he could have hoped for Gollin was already up to 11th place. Josh then took another two places putting him in 9th and on the penultimate lap overtook 6th seed Michael Epps for 8th. The last lap saw Gollin make a small mistake and run wide allowing Epps to close up. 2 corners later Epps made his move, with Josh already committed to the corner; inevitably they collided meaning Josh was forced off the track, losing a number of places but eventually salvaging 17th.
The second heat saw Josh start from 8th position. This grid spot did not prove favourable for Gollin as the outside line meant he lost a couple of places at the start, however he was back up to 8th by the third corner. On the third lap Josh made up another two places putting him in 6th for the final lap – an excellent last lap allowed Josh to move into 4th place by the flag.
Josh would start the third and final heat of the day from 13th position. An excellent start and a cool head saw the youngster from Kenley scythe through the pack like a hot knife through butter. By the finish Josh was up to 3rd place and rapidly catching the leaders and without a single clear lap, still setting a race-winning time.
The results of the heats led to Josh being 4th on the grid for the final; disappointing considering if he had not been taken out of the first heat, he would have secured pole by some margin. At the start Josh tagged onto the bumper of team-mate Tom Arme who had an excellent start from 2nd outwitting the pole-sitter. However, while passing the pole-man in the first corner Josh was hit causing him to take to the grass on the inside; as he rejoined the track he was spun round bending his rear axle and putting him right into the path of the on-coming field. Gollin then received an impact head-on, but miraculously the kart, and Josh to a certain extent (who suffered a nasty thumb injury) were okay to carry on racing. Now down in 34th place with a badly bent axle and some way behind, Josh was on a mission. He came through the pack with controlled aggression and pulled off a number of brave overtakes over the course of the 12 lap final eventually overtaking 19 drivers to finish in 15th place. Even with a bent axle Josh’s fastest lap was only 0.10 off the race winner. Disappointed to have not won, which was very likely had he have made it round the first corner he was told by Steven Lake, Director AIM Motorsport that ‘to have qualified 4th in what was effectively a British Super 1 Championship grid was excellent. It is a shame about the result but you have proven you can compete with the best’. Prospects for this year are looking good.
If you are interested in supporting Josh this year please visit his website www.josh-gollin.co.uk or join http://www.facebook.com/pages/Josh-Gollin-Fan-Club/177086922330138 for more details.
About the Author
Josh currently races for AIM Motorsport and in 2011 will be competing in the Senior Rotax class, in the British Super 1 Championship which both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button competed in and won. In his 3 and a half years of karting the 16 year old from Surrey has won races, set fastest laps, taken pole positions and broken lap records. He is seeking a sponsorship deal so that he can continue racing and move from karts to cars at the end of next year. For more details please visit his website – www.josh-gollin.co.uk
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