This weekend, Xavier Lázaro participated in the second stage of the Portuguese Karting Championship, held at the International Karting Circuit of Leiria. The event didn't go well for the Várzea de Sintra driver, but it was quite rich in lessons for the future.
Heading into another round of the championship, the expectations were actually quite high, largely based on the data gathered during preparation for the event, particularly in the testing sessions conducted in the weeks and days leading up to it. Apparently, everything indicated that progress in learning would be noticeable during timed practices, qualifying heats, and races, reflected in the results.
“O Xavier preparou-se bem para esta etapa”, said his father, Vasco Lázaro, after the conclusion of the race program, Sunday afternoon. “Treinámos o suficiente para que este fosse mais um fim de semana positivo na sua evolução em pista”.
Right at the beginning of the official program for the race organized by the Leiria Motor Sports Club (NDML), during the free practice sessions, it was clear that the weekend was going to be tough for young Xavier, the youngest driver among all those competing in the X30 Mini category. In both sessions, it was never possible to improve upon the slowest time, almost a second behind the fastest on the track.
The scenario repeated itself in Qualifying 1, with Xavier's best lap being recorded at 51.391s, distant from the 50.484s achieved by the pole position holder.
In the races, the positive highlight was the 13th place (out of 15 drivers) in the 1st Qualifying Heat, with Xavier being consistent on the track, although not able to display the same competitive levels shown in the initial stage of the championship. In Race 1, he couldn't do better than second to last, after a nose penalty following an error on the track. His best lap was recorded at 52.464s, leaving him a second and a half behind the fastest.
Sunday started the same as Saturday ended, meaning in the free practice sessions, Xavier again clocked his best lap nearly two seconds slower than the fastest on the track, something that was also evident in the Qualifying session, where he emerged with the 14th time, 2.275s off the pole position. It was at this point that his team (Cabo Júnior Team) detected a bent crankshaft in the IAME engine that equips the Kart Republic chassis.
Para as duas corridas de Domingo, com esse imponderável técnico resolvido, mas com a chuva a vir ‘juntar-se à festa’, o jovem da Várzea de Sintra continuou a empenhar-se ao máximo em pista, no sentido de estar junto aos seus principais adversários nesta temporada. No entanto, se por um lado pudemos perceber em Leiria que a concorrência evoluiu tecnicamente, por outro o Xavier foi cometendo pequenos erros na 2ª Manga de Qualificação e Corrida 2, que acabaram por ser preponderantes nos resultados, sendo 14º (após penalização de bico) e 13º.
“Convém nunca perder o foco, esta é uma temporada de aprendizagem para o ‘Xavi'”, said Vasco Lázaro. “Ele tem sete aninhos, menos dois que a maior parte dos seus adversários, além de que eles, na sua grande parte, já levam um ano de competição em equipamento deste tipo. Este fim de semana não correu bem, a vários níveis, mas serve de aprendizagem como todos os outros. O Xavier é super competitivo, este fim de semana tentou tudo para andar junto daqueles com que tem disputado posições nas corridas. No entanto, por vezes, cometeu excessos. Faz parte, este ano é para aprender e ele está a fazer isso.”
All the weekend's results can be consulted HERE.
