RACE REPORTS

Josh and Cynan Complete Double Podium for Orange Apex at Shennington.

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Orange Apex enjoyed a successful weekend in Round 3 of the UK Kart Series at Shenington
after Josh and Cynan secured a brilliant double podium for the team.

Josh’s second place gives him a hat-trick of podium finishes this season having previously
secured 1st and 3rd in previous rounds, whilst Cynan’s third-placed finish topped off a strong
overall weekend performance gaining him his first ever podium in the UK Kart Series.

Both drivers began the weekend in consistent form although Saturday's practice sessions were
largely disrupted by transponder issues for many karts. Josh set the pace in-class in practice 5
finishing fastest. Cynan achieved three P2’s over the five practice sessions before storming to
the fastest time with a 49.455 in qualifying 2 achieving a lap time only 0.8 seconds slower than
the quickest overall for the session. Josh finished third in-class in each qualifying session.

Sunday started promisingly for both drivers. The first race, Heat 1 saw Josh and Cynan start
well, retaining their positions on the opening lap. By the end of lap 2 Cynan dropped back to fifth
and upon making a brave move into the first hairpin trying to regain position unfortunately had
contact receiving a 5-second penalty in the process. The recovering drive however was superb,
finishing in third in-class. Josh also lost some time from contact with a pro-driver but he too
made a sterling recovery to finish in second in-class.

Heat 2 saw two more strong finishes from the drivers with Josh crossing the line in third and
Cynan in fourth respectively. Both drivers had similar races to Heat 1 with Josh again getting
caught up in pro-driver battles and had contact during the middle part of the race. Cynan lost a
place in the early stages in a carbon copy of the first heat but again recovered well.

Josh won Heat 3 finishing nearly three seconds clear of 2nd. He had great pace throughout the
race after seizing the lead when a driver in the midfield caused chaos on the opening lap going
off at turn one. Cynan was caught up in the aftermath forced to take avoiding action and had
dropped to eighth by the end of the first lap. However, he once again showed his grit and
overtaking ability passing one driver-per lap until brilliantly grabbing third-place just before the
end with an exceptional move into the first hairpin. Cynan expertly sold his competitor the
dummy to the inside before switching to the outside and completing the perfect switch-a-roo on
the exit to secure another heat podium.

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The final was delayed by thirty minutes due to red flags in other races so the drivers had a
nervous wait before taking to the track for the all important final race. Both Josh and Cynan had
strong starts before a monumental race-long battle ensued. Kart 58 pulled away from the pro-
class drivers who had jumped Josh at the start. Cynan tucked in behind Josh and both drivers
were then held-up by the pros. Eight drivers from both classes had an eye-catching duel until
the end with the podium places in-class up for grabs. Josh had some good battles swapping
places throughout until eventually crossing the line in an impressive second-place in-class.

Cynan held firmly to third for most of the race but by the penultimate lap was down in fourth.
With just one lap to go, he pulled off a fine move up the inside of Kart 85 to take his first podium
in the UK Kart series in style.

Three-in-three podium finishes for Josh lifts him to second in the championship standings whilst
a first podium for Cynan puts him in fourth at the time of writing.

Both drivers will be looking to build on an excellent weekend when they return to Shenington for
Round 4 on the weekend 1st/2nd June. Orange Apex will also be competing in the 2024
Independent Kart Series, also at Shenington, with Round 1 scheduled for the same weekend.