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After winning all three heats and dominating the
final at the TKM Karting Super 1 at Kimbolton we caught up
with Danny Drew to find out how he did it.
Danny has only been in karting for a couple of years and
I remember spending some time coaching
him at Kimbolton where he showed a distinct talent for kart
control (especially on the brakes) and I'm not at all surprised
by his progress.
Danny is a very self assured young man and and has shown
his exceptional commitment to his racing, not least by shedding
a significant amount of weight to enable him to compete at
the top level of karting. |
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Here's the interview with Danny where
he clearly explains his approach to driving a kart so you can try
some of his techniques.
Danny disappearing off into the distance at Kimbolton. Picture by
Chris Walker at Kartpics
One thing I have noticed about
your driving is how you use your brakes, this was on display big
time at Kimbolton S1 where you won every race in style!!.... I could
really see that you like to allow the rear
end to step out on the brakes, and it looks fantastic and great
fun, oh and quick too!! First can you tell us why you brake like
that and second how you do it??
Basically the way Iuse my
brakes is Ihit the brakes very hard and jig the steering to the
way i want it to face and by dong this Ican brake later cause the
back end steps out and slows the kart a lot. Some times Iover do
it but still manage to keep it gong round the bend but its a bit
messy.
When you first got into the super
1 scene last year you were always on the pace but something always
seemed to go wrong. Can you tell us what you did differently at
Kimbolton that seemed to make everything go
right!
What we did differently Isuppose
is run on our own, so my Dad and Idecide on what is the best settings
for the chassis and me.... oh and the circuit! Instead of going
on team setup, but I have to admit we did try some very weird setups!
What is it about your own driving
style that seperates you from other drivers, are you more smooth
or more aggressive for example, is there a definitive 'Danny Drew'
style
Well I don't know about a
'Danny Drew' style but Icould tell you what my aims are
1. To be as-late on the brakes as-possible
2. To get every apex of every bend
3. To get as early on the gas as-possible
4. And to be as smooth as-possible.
With those four goals achieved you will have a consistently fast
lap time. E.g Kimbolton final five consecutive lap times of 45.72secs!!!
Nice time to win your first time....the Super 1 Champioships
at Kimbolton!
What do you think you'll be driving
next year?
Well Ihope to be driving
in 'Junior Elite' if it starts but I'm gonna have to lose a bit
more weight if Ido want to do it.
A little birdy tells me you had
a blast out on an ICA kart! Tell us how it felt to drive that compared
to your TKM....Were you able to drive with your usual style or did
you have to change anything?
Well the ICA kart blew me
away! Icouldnt believe how fast it was, Dave Lichtfield told me
to take it easy for the first time out but Ididn't want to. Igot
on to the track and my head and body shot back in the seat because
it was so powerful and no Ididn't need to change my driving style
at-all. Compared it to the TKMit was awsome. The tkm felt like a
snail...... oh and I got within 5 tenths of Mark Lichtfield!
You have lost a lot of weight
in order to hit the TKM weight limit. This obviously shows your
outsanding commitment to karting, can you tell us if you have a
fitness routine to keep in shape.
Sorry Icant tell you that
but lets just say I've eaten a lot of Kellogg's and some exercise.
When it comes to learning a new
track what steps do you go through in order to get on the pace as
fast as possible? For example do you look for braking points and
study other driver's lines, or do you just get
out there and go for it?
I do a bit of both. I watch
other TKM races and get out there and go for it Isuppose.
Do you think you will move into
racing cars at some point, if so where are you setting your sights?
Well cars is the aim but don't
yet know which category because it's too early to tell, but if Ihave
to say it would be Formula 1 or A1 grand prix, because Iprefer open
wheel racing.
How does it feel to completely
dominate a round of the British championships.
Well I'm over the moon about
it cause I went from winning nothing to winning a Super
1 round, but when Iwon the three heats I was so happy but
to win the final as well was an absolute bonus.
More kart
driver interviews
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