Driver Journal Lucas Ellingham

Driver Name

Lucas Ellingham

Driver Number

#99

Team Name

Jack Dex Racing (JDR)

Facebook

@LucasEllingham

Instagram

@lucasellingham_99

YouTube

My Channel

Website

http://www.lucasellingham.com

Primary Sponsor

http://www.arc-av.com

Secondary Sponsor

http://www.jackdexracing.co.uk

Sponsorship Request

1. I'm looking for sponsorship, please contact me!

Photography By

Stu Stretton & Kartpix

Hi & thanks for clicking on this post.
I started driving karts when I was 6 and since have been obsessed with racing and winning ever since.

I work hard at ensuring that I and my equipment are in the best condition and I use what I have available to the best of

my ability to maximise my potential. To date I have won multiple championships including National Titles and will keep working to realise my goals.

Currently I race in the UK in the X30 Senior & Rotax Max classes with Jack Dex Racing and I am focusing on achieving my next goal which is to win UK & European kart series with my long-term goal being to drive professionally.




The partn

erships I have built up over the last few years enable me to be competitive against those with a substantially higher racing budget and as such I highly value those who support me, I always give 100% and always go to win!

If anyone is interested please come and follow me on Instagram & Facebook and should you be interested in coming on-board with me and my racing please drop me a message or use the 'Contact me' section of my website.

Here's an excerpt from my CV with some statistics from my cadet & junior days

LAP RECORDS BROKEN

X30M PF International X30 Senior Whilton Mill

X30M Hunts Kart Race Club (HKRC)

X30M Shenington Kart Racing Club

2018 RACE STATISTICS

EVENTS ENTERED	25	FINALS WON	14
TOTAL RACES	86	TOTAL TOP 3 FINISHES	63
CONSECUTIVE FINAL WINS	7	PODIUM TOTAL	20
MEETING CLEAN SWEEP	7	CHAMPS / MAJOR EVENT WINS	3

WORK & DEVELOPMENT

KART DEVELOPMENT DRIVING	2017 Zip Vanquish & Synergy Honda Cadet karts 2018-2022 MS Kart Blue Phoenix rzf29 kart
DRIVER COACHING	Cadets, Junior & Senior drivers
TEAM WORK	Working as mechanic in awning Coaching drivers in the team

Thanks again for looking & hope it's been interesting.

 

[Adam]

Still keeping at it Lucas?! Good to see fella

 

[LE#99]

Still keeping at it Lucas?! Good to see fella

Working mostly, but getting out racing when I can....no kartmasters this year though unfortunately, 1st time I've not done it for like 8 years or something, will be frustrating working there instead lol

You out much?

 

[Adam]

Working mostly, but getting out racing when I can....no kartmasters this year though unfortunately, 1st time I've not done it for like 8 years or something, will be frustrating working there instead lol

You out much?

Ahh least you are working there! On the spanners I assume?

Nope not at all fella. Not been out since November, not even a hack round. Just too busy with work and life as of late

 

[LE#99]

A nice little mention in one of Terence Doves driver coaching series....

On Racing Drivers by Terence Dove - Karting Moments that Blew My Mind

I've known Terence since I was 7 and he's helped and followed my progress ever since. He's coached many different drivers right up to F1 and Indicar....... also one of those who were happy to provide a testimonial for me whe I went for selection to drive for GB a few years ago.

It's worth reading his weekly publishing and also subscribe to his feed and buy his book, a must have for all kart drivers.....

Learn How To Master The Art Of Kart Driving: Command your kart, dominate your opponents and grow your self-confidence with advanced driving techniques and winning strategies used by the pros. https://amzn.eu/d/iRyMVDS

 

[LE#99]

First time back at Whilton Mill Kart Club this year and 1st time in X30 since 2022!!!!
Not been to whilton this year as done all I wanted to there over the last 4 years claiming back to back victories in all classes I've raced in but fancied a bit of fun as didn't race in August so thought let's see what it's like now.........different tyres, different track layout and ive been dialled in to Rotax with only the very odd foray into KZ2 when I work for Energy Corse occasionally.

Let's see how it went....

Saturday Testing....... so much for summer, bloody rained all day until when I wanted it to rain for TQ and it dried.

Test 1
This was a fun weekend so I dusted off some wets from the garage from 2021 as its summer yes, won't need them...

Out for test 1 in the pouring rain then on 3 year old tyres....yep, still know my way round Whilton in the wet and as for old tyres.....I'm storing all my wets for 3 years now before I use them as finished the session with a 0.6s buffer to the nearest driver lol.


Test 2
More rain and another run on the tyres not changing much tbh, just trying to see how low we can go on pressures......went a bit too low TBH but still top of the pile...

Test 3
Took the tyres off to save what was left in case I needed them for TQ later. Now, still raining and although it wasn't supposed to rain Sunday thought I'd need to be safe as if it was wet all day the set would not last so decided to scrub a new set in this session.
All went OK but they took a while to come in but by the last lap were starting to get there. Another 3 or 4 laps and they'd be rocking and I reckon a good 4 10ths in the bag extra....

Test 4
Off and on raining and didn't really need to go out, didn't want to use the wets as if it dried mid-session I'd toast them......also hadn't weighed a dry setup so threw a set of slicks on and thought let's have some fun.....slicks in the wet = sideways..

Went out and set a target of getting within 10 seconds of the wet tyre drivers (which was everyone else lol).......nearly got there and I think if I'd got one more lap in with the way the track was changing I'd have done it easily....but the clerk though differently and popped me out a black flag for being on slicks in the wet lol.

At least It meant I could weigh on the way in though and not have to come back to the scales........lazy me?, no, just economical with the effort.

TQ

Typically the sun was out and the track was dry....so into TQ on the current (new compound to me) Komet senior tyres....let's see what we can do.
I got grid position 32 which was far from ideal as if I went out when the lights went green I'd spend the whole session having to overtake and never get a clean lap.....so I bit the bullet and decided to wait until there was enough of a gap.
I sat until the p32 driver hit T3 called Christmas then I left the pits.
I started nailing the laps and was there or thereabouts but the tyre takes a while to come and I knew it'd be the last lap that gave the best time. The gap worked and I had just about a clear run just catching the tail of the slower drivers by the time I took the flag.

The downside of this was that the drivers at the front got another lap in before they took the flag and this showed bumping me down to P4 but I'll take that, a couple of 10ths off in my own air after not being here all year and in a different class....... onto Sunday and we all know how much damage we can cause from a row 2 start

Sunday - Race Day

Heat 1

P4 Start and we go....I soon find out this tyre doesn't turn on anywhere as quickly as the Mojo tyres I run in Senior Rotax and the 1st evolution of the race (say 3-4 laps) was hard work. I dropped back a few spots but as the tyres came in started to get pace and worked forwards and got back to P4 and closing to the lead pack into the last lap.
Last lap and the front 3 started fighting and by T7 I'd caught them and sent it round the outside to draw level with the P3 driver then into T8 held the outside line which would then turn in to the inside line at T9 to hold the position to the flag.
So a P3 in heat 1, learning race I guess, won't be like that in heat 2.

Heat 2

P4 Start again but made some changes to dial the kart and me into the tyre so hopefully a good start.....

Lights went and away we go, got a much better start but lap 2 the guy behind lunged me into T3 which caused a gap to the drivers ahead.....I knew things felt better so sent it straight back in at T4 and gapped the driver behind......now, while this was happening it all went off at the front and the front 2 drivers managed to take themselves out of the race!

This put me now in P2 with a gap to the leader and it was time to see if I had any pace so head down and got to work. The kart was mint and in the last 3rd of the race I caught the leader so quickly, went past and pulled a gap to the flag.....which was nice.

Not only did it show pace was OK but this put me on Pole for the final.

Final

Pole start for the final.........A grid slot I'd got used to at whilton over the years and a nice surprise as although I'd hoped to be strong there were decent drivers who are leading the championship here in the mix.

So, the plan, same as days of old, control the 1st few laps and try to make a break and build a buffer.

We went at 1st time of asking and I get a good start, I nail laps 1 and 2 by which time I've got enough of a gap where I don't have to worry about a lunge from behind.

Its now time to try to break the other drivers with consistency. I keep smashing the laps and gradually eek out a gap which ends up at about 4-5 seconds by the time I take the flag and the win.

So, 1st time at whilton in X30 for a couple of years and I loved it...it's quite a different drive to Rotax and I do prefer the engine characteristics.

All in all a good weekend which wouldn't be possible without the dedication and support of

JDR Jack Dex Racing - Best value team in UK karting who have a passion and drive like no other. All drivers in JDR benefit from in-house driver coaching by Jack Dex and myself and the driver progression whilst in JDR is clear to see from the results.

SSport Engines - Best Iame Tuner Hands Down!

ARC Audio Visual - These guys can design and supply any audio visual solution you need from simple displays, through Zoom and Teams conferencing rooms to big corporate offices, meeting rooms and lecture theatres.

If anyone else is interested in driver training drop me a line as I'm available for both on track and off track/data days at most circuits throughout the UK.

 

[LE#99]

TVKC 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4

Testing went OK, not spectacular but was there or thereabouts.

4 or 5 sessions before our TQ it started raining waited then changed to wet setup...it stops....change to dry.....starts .....changed to wet then at the last minute go back to dry and rush to the grid, get there with 1:30 left before the gate closes and it's a real mix with the majority being on wets....

I setup on p2, my championship position and wait.....now the TQ plan had gone out of the window as most of the fast guys, well, most others were on wets so when the lights went green a bunch of the wet guys left the pits and I was going to wait for them to get a big gap but then another bunch went to leave and I sent it so I didn't have 2 packs to negotiate.

The track was definitely damp but not enough for full wets so after getting past the first group on lap 1 and 2 it was time to nail the laps as I'd only had 4:20 left on the clock when I left the pits and it's a 3 lap average, like in the British champs etc.

My teammates were going well as they were pinging up p1-3 but on my last 2 laps I nailed it and took overall pole by 6 10ths and my fastest lap was 1.2s quicker than anyone....which was nice and to top it off JDR locked out the front 2 rows with all 4 senior drivers!

That was Saturday almost done, just the usual full kart strip down and prep for Sunday to make sure everything was how I wanted it.

SUNDAY

Heat 1
Was good to see the red white & blue karts at the front for a change and it was still damp so hoped for a good race to maximise on the starting position.

I got a good start and stretched a 1-2s gap in the first few laps so settled in to wait for the clock to count down.

My teammate of P2 was very fast and started to close the gap until the last 2 laps where he got close enough that I pushed a little harder but I was still trying to preserve my tyres as the track had dried considerably.

I crossed the line in P1 to tick off the 1st heat.

Heat 2
Track had dried so it was 1st real test and everyone except the few of us that went slicks for TQ had brand new tyres.

I got a good start again but the tyres didnt seem to come and although it was a similar story to Heat 1, I got a gap but my teammate closed in on me this time with 3 laps left to go the kart switched on fully and I could push and maintained the lead to the flag.

This put me pole for the final with my teammate on p2.

Final

We went st the second time of asking and the kart didn't feel good, hadn't changed much since heat 2 but it was feeling a handful and as such by lap 2 I'd dropped to p2, lap 3 p4 and by lap 4 I was in 5th......next lap and briefly I was relegated to p7 so now it was time to do something as couldn't risk dropping back any further......so pushed, made a couple of moves and got back into p4.

Now time to try and get to the p3 driver so over the next 3 laps pushed as hard as I could but the kart still wasn't under me but I managed to get back to them just as a battenburgh flag came out...... bittersweet as the kart was just starting to come to me and now I had to slow, the other side was that it shoukd bunch us back up with the leader who'd checked out.

So battenburgh flag but for some reason the leader didn't slow down for a lap, and just pumped in a quick lap extending his gap, finally he slowed and we started to bridge the gap to form up behind him but then halfway round the next lap, coming out of the 2nd hairpin hrs nailed it again....... we speed up to follow him but are a way behind and as we go down the straight they signal green to go..WTF......I cross theine with 3s on the clock but then when the main pack come round the gantry shows last lap?!?!

I know nothing about this and think I've got 2 laps to catch the leader and I'm in p3, send it going under the bridge into p2 and set about pushing for the p1 guy....and I'm making good progress being 4 10ths quicker than the leader so coming onto the last lap I think there's all to play for but as I go down the straight I see the chequered flag waving...NOOOO..then I see on the digiflag 'Black Flag' for the leader.....so by default P1. Would have liked to take the win on the track but with all the strange goings on in the race I'll take that all day long.

Well done to my teammate Liam Hartley for a well deserved P2 and pushed me hard all weekend...uber quick at pfi now is Liam.

As always big thanks to
Jack Dex Racing
Time Racing Engines
ARC AV
Chris @kartpix for the great photos

 

[LE#99]

Really short one about last weekend at HKRC at Kimbolton

Testing was average, being slightly off the fastest in each session but slowly working through things to be quickest in last session where everyone else slowed.

3 heats and a final for race day

Heat 1 P3 P1

Heat 2 P28 P5

Heat 3 P14 P2 but penalty dropped me to P17

Final P1 P1

Bug thanks to Jack Dex Racing JDR, MSKart, Time Racing Engines & ARC-AV for all the support once again.

 

[LE#99]

Been out working with Ralf who was having a test day in KZ2.....
Anyone need some driver coaching or a mechanic please reach out to me here or DM me via Facebook, my website or Insta etc

 

[LE#99]

Another day yesterday working with another driver in KZ at Shennjngton.

 

[LE#99]

Whilton Mill SX30 Aug 24 Heat 1 Video Link