Day 9: Second and fourth on my best day of the Worlds

Day three of the individual Kart World Championship (KWC) at Vandel Kart was comfortably my best so far. A second place in race five — my second podium of the championship — and a fourth place in a kart with engine trouble lifted me from 54th to 37th overall. For the first time I am inside the semifinal cut, with two races left to defend it.

Both of today's races ran on the classic layout. The pace felt good from the first qualifying session, and the second place in race five is my best result of the championship so far. Race six was a completely different challenge: a kart that was really quick through the corners but lost a lot of speed on the straights. With an early pit stop and clean air I still brought home fourth place.

Race 5: second in the race that got an extra lap

I qualified second and got a good start, but quickly realised I did not quite have the pace to challenge the leader. At the same time I could not build a gap behind me, so the race was stressful from the very beginning.

So I chose to take the mandatory pit stop early. I entered the pit lane slightly too fast and came close to a penalty, but stayed just inside the limit. From there I had clean air and could focus on setting consistent, quick laps. Once the others made their stops I came out with a comfortable gap behind me and could control the race.

The ending, though, was confusing. The boards showed two laps to go, then one lap to go — and then another one-lap board. I believed the leader had missed his mandatory pit stop and that the win was mine as I crossed the line. But an extra lap was run, because the marshal at the start-finish line had shown the wrong board to the leader. That gave him time to make his stop and keep the win.

Several drivers read the situation the same way and a protest was submitted, but the organisers concluded it was a marshal's mistake, so the result stood. Second place is my second podium of the championship and my best result so far. The win felt close for a moment, but I am very happy with the result.

Race 6: fourth despite engine trouble

I qualified sixth for the second race. The kart felt fantastic through the corners, with really good grip, but on the straights it had a serious engine problem. The engine bogged down on both long straights and lost so much top speed that it cost an estimated half a second per lap.

The start was decent and I held my position through the opening corners. But already on the first long straight I lost several kart lengths to the karts ahead, while the drivers behind closed in.

To avoid defending for the whole race I went into the pits as soon as they opened after the first lap. The stop was perfect and I came out in clean air, where I could make full use of the kart's strength through the corners.

A few laps later the driver ahead of me made her stop and came out behind me. From there it was about managing the gap all the way to the finish. She gained a little on the straights, but I pulled away again through the corner sections and never had to defend seriously.

For much of the race I was setting the third-fastest lap times — the two at the front were in a class of their own. Thanks to the early pit stop and a steady pace I was fourth once all the stops were done.

Feeling after the day

A second place and a fourth place make this my best day of the championship so far. I have climbed from 54th to 37th, and for the first time I am inside the cut — the top 48 after eight races go through to the semifinals.

Coming into the week I had almost written off the final. Now the hope is alive again. Two strong races tomorrow can secure the semifinal spot, and from there the fight is for one of the 18 places in the final. The times for my last two heats are in the schedule on the championship page.

What I take with me

• My race pace is much stronger now than at the start of the championship.
• The early pit stops worked in both races.
• A second podium gives me confidence for the last day of qualifying heats.
• Inside the semifinal cut for the first time — now I have to defend it.
• It all comes down to finishing the last two races strongly.