Sukaru took victory with a dominant display at EnduroKa’s opening round at Snetterton.
As the British motorsport season gets back into gear, the hot hatches of EnduroKa made their racing return with the 3 Hours of Snetterton. A packed day with both Qualifying and 180 minutes of racing in the hills of Norfolk.
Qualifying
A 45 minute qualifying session would set the grid for the opening round with the #555 Sukaru driven by Alec Livesley and Adam Bessel and the #131 Ka Tastrophy trading fastest laps throughout the session. Eventually it would be the Sukaru car taking pole, a time of 2:35:473, with the #333 KaHoonas Racing Team rounding out the top three after a second Red Flag brought an end to proceedings when the #161 Ka Barge rolled over coming out of Murrays.
Race
The race got underway at 3pm and when it was time to go racing at Snetterton. 30 Ford Kas set off for three hours of the Snetterton 300 layout, the circuit’s longest.
The first hour was a relatively clean affair, with the exception of the usual argy bargy expected with these hot hatchbacks, the only issue coming from the #131 as it temporarily pulled of too the side with a mechanical issue. Hour one finished with the pole sitter firmly in the lead.
The second hour brought along the first of the pitstop, with driver changes and refueling needing doing the lead changed hands more than a couple of times but ultimately it would once again be the Sukaru car holding a strong lead out front.
A car stranded on track and subsequent Safety car briefly threatened Sukaru’s comfortable lead but a perfect restart allowed the #555 to get away and retainin it’s lead.
Into the final hour and as the sun starts to set the track has an orange glow as the sun starts to set on Snetterton’s season opener.
The third and final hour brought a little bit of drama as the #41 of Rowe Rage Racing took a shunt from Windgat Racing’s #3 car, Rowe ending up backwards coming out the Bombhole as the Windgat car attempted to lap it.
With 45 minutes left to go Sukaru took its final pitstop while AutoTech’s #65 car tried to play the long game. With the AutoTech seemingly attempting to pull off a one stop strategy it was looking like a tight finish was in store as the #555 closed in with much fresher tyres bringing the gap from 30 seconds down to eight before AutoTech decided to bring their car in with 12 minutes to go, ultimately admitting defeat and handing the lead to Sukaru and that’s where they would stay, a dominant display from Alec Livesley and Adam Bessel who almost never looked in doubt of relinquishing their lead.
The podium was rounded up by Ka Motion’s #141 coming from all the way down in ninth to claim the second step and the #46 of MilnAir racing who also started way down the pack in 14th, a wonderful display of driving from all three teams.
