November 02, 2012
Published on tags: Superleague
Kernow Sports debut season can be summed up as, okay. Neither dominators, nor perennial back-row boys, the Cornish team has had a respectable 2012 overall for a new team, finishing 8th place in the Constructors Championship on 57pts (Simon Cattell - 52; Mark Wicks - 5). A best race result of 4th, 14 points finishes and 30 race finishes from 35 car starts.

The team began the season as a dark horse but, soon after Pre-season testing was completed and Midnight Motorsports dominance was established, it became clear that being part of the ?Best of the Rest? fight was the highest the team could hope for. A strong early season run from Cattell put Kernow 4th in the championship by the 1/3rd distance, behind Midnight, Nordsjoen and Draig. However, at this point in the season a lack of performance upgrades took their toll, as well as a 3rd driver who was regularly absent (and later sold). Development stumbled due to lack of research points and the car fell behind all others on the grid bar Synergetic for the mid-season.

The drivers struggled getting to grips with improving the car setup. Cattell still pulled off some points finishes, whilst Wicks continued his run of poor showings stuffed full with bad luck; his confidence had clearly plummeted. The team dropped to 7th in the standings and once Hawkeye got their running shoes on, 8th. A position the team managed to hold onto in the final 1/3rd of the season, thanks due to some very late but important upgrades that brought the car back on par with the midfield teams, and an upturn in form from Wicks. The team scored successive double-points finishes and looked stronger than they had for many months. With Cattell scoring a highlight 4th place at Suzuka in the penultimate round.

In the final race the team signed a debutant for the chance to compete in a one-off Superleague Grand Prix. The chosen applicant was Ihab Abbas and with little experience behind the wheel of the car he applied himself well.

A perfectly reliable year mechanically was a good sign for the team (Wicks finished all 17 of his competed events) and its engine partner Audi; while not being the most powerful, was a cheap and effective powerplant. Financially the team did well too. Test Drivers Nick Newcombe and Philip Cullen are thanked for the important parts they played, in testing duties and backroom advice throughout the season. Overall it?s a debut year to be fairly proud of and should be a good base of experience from which to step up into next year?s top-half and score that first podium.

At present the team?s 2013 line-up is to be confirmed. Rumours abound that all seats are still available and so any interest from potential drivers would be welcomed. With owner Wicks not even making it clear if he intends to carry on in a race role.