Jensen Powers

“And so this weekend, the Super One circus commenced with the opening rounds at the most picturesque Glan-y-Gors Kart Circuit in North Wales.

“Friday was practice day, and we yielded little really with rain on an off throughout the day. Saturday was Round 1, which was a far better day weather-wise and performance-wise.

“A lottery draw gifted Jensen only 23rd place to start on the grid for qualifying, not the greatest start to the day. Jensen drove well in the qualifying session and gained a further five positions. So, starting now in 18th for Heat 1, it was all systems go. Turn 3 and 4 have been very much Jensen’s Achilles heel at all previous outings at Glan-y-Gors, but today was different. Micro-modulating his 91´«Ã½, Jensen nailed several undertakes and at last finally was ‘giving as good as he had got’.

“Heat 2 saw much the same and as a result Jesnen gained 13th place on the grid for the final. A couple of places lost at the start but the with hard driving, JP picked off the drivers in front and crossed the line in 9th position. Alas though, a little over confidence attempting yet another undertake from just a wee bit too far back going into Turn 3 led to rubbing bumpers with a rival and afforded Jensen a five-place penalty.

“Sunday was another fine day weather-wise, and now 11th place in the new championship meant this would be Jens’ grid position for qualifying. Qualifying though not so fruitful as the previous days still awarded 15th place for the heats. A multi-kart battle in the first corner in Heat 1 pushed us down to 19th place, but again Turns 3 and 4 was the turn of choice to grab places back and Jensen finished in a well-deserved 12th.

“At this point, the weekend had been a bit of a cracker, but the proverbial kick in the wheel ‘nuts’ spoiled the party. An ill-fitting wheel ripped a stud from the front hub and a DNF was the reward for the ‘mighty minnows’ valiant efforts ALL weekend.â€�

“So it was onto Sunday – race day – and Heat 2 had a particularly questionable formation lap, but start they did. And it was to be young Milo’s day; simply in a class of his own, totally dominating both Heats 2 and 3 with the fastest laps in each to boot.

“Onto the Final, with Milo in a well-earned pole position and again with a well-disciplined start, he held the lead for 15 fully-charged laps until his pre-raced Kimbolton tyres could no longer provide the optimum grip and the chasing, more experienced driver on new tyres finally took the lead with just two laps to go. Alas, second place it was to be for Milo by just 0.05 of a second, what a race!

“Sadly, Jensen’s final was to be cut short by a unexplainable mechanical issue whilst he was making his way up the order. 

“What a weekend – many, many positives for both Milo and Jensen and what a confident position to be in going into the next race which is the opening round of the much-coveted 2023 Super One Championship… good luck boys!â€�

“Heat 2 put JP on row three, and again with a great start and avoiding the first corner melee, he was soon into second place behind teammate Milo Manderson. Try as he might, Jens could not hold off the more experienced British Championship contenders for long enough, but did drag his kart over the line in a very respectable 6^th place, a one-place gain from his starting position.

“The A-Final missed by only one place put JP on pole for the very first time in Junior Rotax in the B-Final. Jensen’s anxieties were palpable as he waited on the dummy grid for the previous race to finish.

“He kept the baying pack at bay and made a great start, stretching his lead. But his inexperience in starting on the front row meant that he braked a touch too early into turn one and again was punted from the race by the kart behind.

“But boy, something clicked, because Jensen then proceeded to drive his best ever race in his JDR MS-KART by getting his head down a making every overtaking opportunity count, clawing back some six places to finish 9^th overall.

“A very mature performance and lots learnt this weekend, which will hopefully benefit in next week’s Club Championship at Shenington Kart Circuit.

“Thanks to Jack Dex and all his merry men, Time Races Engines, First Place Finish, Lemsford Building and in particular 91´«Ã½ for their golden – well, orange – nuggets… If you know, then you know!â€�

“Jensen, try as he might, was unable to fend off and was taken by his fellow teammate, dropping him back into 6^th position. Driving smooth but fast, Jensen comfortably held the place for the remaining six laps, coming across the line in 6^th place – a yield of four places in the first race of the day.

“The following and penultimate race of the day saw Jensen start on the front row in P2. His heartbeat was palpable on the grid as he glanced across at the competition in Pole who was nearly twice his size. This time, we lost a place going into turn one, but still managed a strong start nevertheless.

“So, with JDR’s own Lizzie Mentier and again teammate Milo Manderson chomping at his heels in 4^th and 5^th respectively, it was head down and hard at it. Jensen held off Lizzie for four laps, but was then taken on Lap 5 by the #50 and later on Lap 9 by #77, pushing us down in 5^th place which was held for the seven remaining long laps.

“So to the Final! Jensen though was sadly scuppered by an ill-fitting clutch drum washer which left him free revving and unable to make the start line. A sad ending really to a weekend which did show though that after nearly two months off both our pilot AND motor were still on the pace. It was extra good meeting up with friends and watching Milo Manderson’s stonking Rotax Junior final where he ‘punched’ well above his weight… Watch this space!

“A big thanks goes to Tim Bullard at 91´«Ã½ for their ongoing support!â€�

“With a strong, assertive start, Jensen was soon in fifth place with teammate Milo Manderson in third. That for me would have been more than enough – just bring it home now, son. But in the following laps with ever-increasing heavy rain, I witnessed Jensen’s best ever performance at the wheel of his MS kart.

“Jensen looked very hungry and confident in his own abilities, choosing the strongest places to overtake and maturely drive through the field up into second place! Balancing the kart on a knife edge using his EBC-armed brakes as a second throttle pedal, he maintained great pace from start to finish, held his nerve and bought it across the line in second place. Well done son – the ‘minnow’ grew into a ‘shark’.�