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For this trip, 17 people were composing Team
Canada, including of course the 4 drivers Simon Gagnon, Steve Bernard, David Sirois and Luc Sauriol. Luc was going in Malaysia as a
mechanic but when Servet Yasar told us few days prior the departure that he couldn’t come with us, and because it was too late to invite another driver, Luc took the place of Servet as a driver.
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We left the country January 20 at 7h30
pm. The first flight brought us to London, UK. After waiting for 3h30 hours, we then flew away in direction of Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. This flight lasted 12
hours and was for all of us our longest flight. Arrived in Malaysia, we had only waited for an hour before going to our final destination, Langkawi Island.
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Waiting for our last plane at the Kuala Lumpur airport |
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In fact, Langkawi is an archipelago of
hundred islands. The one where we were going was the largest. When we landed, we could see the track in edge of the airport. It was
approximately 11 am, local time, on Tuesday morning! We had left for more than 25 hours. At this time, the temperature turned around 32 degrees with a high rate of humidity.
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 View of the pool at the 1st hotel.
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The first day was mainly devoted to install us
with at the hotel and to proceed to the race accreditation formalities for the drivers. Our hotel, which was more a congress center than a holiday resort, was beautiful and very roomy but
close to the airport and the circuit. For the majority of us, the evening didn’t be long because of tiredness. During the first day, we of course
discovered the country, the locals and their money, the ringgitts! For 1 Canadian dollar, you have 2,4 ringgitts. The Langkawi Island is well developed for tourism and for that reason, this area has been declared “duty free” by the Malaysian government. This explains that we could buy a 24 Carlsberg beer pack for 23 ringgitts, which mean around 9.50 $ cdn.
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Wednesday, under a hot and sticky weather, we
went to the track to see the circuit of course and to assemble the chassis. Contrary to last year in Puerto Rico, the preparation was made on 2 days. The schedule helps everybody to
do the preparation without rush. For the dinner, we were invited to a banquet on the beach. The hot temperature made it great. During this banquet, we assisted to a
traditional dance and to a snake exhibitions.
Christian and Luc at work -->
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Thursday was the second one for the preparation,
but very important, the engine and tire distribution. It was great to have 2 days for preparation but in the same time, we felt
that the nervousness started to gain the drivers and teammates. For dinner, we went out and chose a little restaurant where we crossed other teams coming from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. While our friends from South Africa where building pyramids with empty beer cans, we have well laugh when Jocelyn, father of Steve, has makes the acquaintance of his meal. It had ordered fish and the plate arrive with the complete animal in it, looking at Jocelyn with a furious look. Jocelyn wasn’t look brake to attack his fish. Finally, Jocelyn appreciate very much is dinner. As the other little restaurant of the same kind, the tables are located outside and only the kitchen is inside.
<-- Our dinner at the Hot Wok Seafood Restaurant
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During the night, Simon decided to have a problem
with a swelling to his ankle, just enough to worry everyone and visit the hospital. More fear than real damage for Simon but he suffered of this injury during all the event.
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The Friday morning was very exciting with the
first official practices. For reports on the competition and results, please read the daily reports posted on www.srakarting.com . Last year, Canadian driver had to discover new
type of tires and the gap between our drivers and the leaders was easy to justify. This year, the gap was lower but our drivers had a lot of work eliminates that difference. A
quick analysis of the results showed us that the fastest drivers where coming from countries with hot temperature, and where they were probably practicing until their departure for Malaysia
while our drivers haven’t practiced from few months. By the end of the day, the results of Canadian drivers where not bad at all.
Simon during a free practice -->
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Saturday was the biggest day of the event, the
one where drivers in good shape had a big advantage. The day began with the warm-ups, followed by the timed trials, the qualification
heats and the second chance race for some lucky drivers. Of course, the weather was still very hot and humid. After having a wonderful warm-up earlier, Simon Gagnon had a very disappointing timed trial, which penalized him for the qualification heats, where he should started at the back of the grid.
<-- Difficult to focus only on karting whith such background.
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As you know, Steve Bernard and Luc Sauriol where
the only Canadian to qualify directly for the final round. David Sirois, starting 14th and Simon Gagnon, starting 30th had to race in the Second chance race to participate at the final round. Among a terrific race where he was running in 10th place somewhere in the race, Simon nor David couldn’t qualify for the final round.
David on track during one of the 3 qualification heats -->.
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On Saturday night, we were invited to a second
banquet. Once again, we had a traditional dance exhibition and the official presentation of the new Max Direct Drive (Max DD2). Another wonderful day on Sunday for the finals.
In the morning the spectators assisted to the warm-up and the pre-final where our 2 Canadian drivers gained some positions on the grid for the final. After the lunch, we assisted to
the competitors’ presentation with the presence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, who also drove a kart. The race was broadcasted live in several Asian countries.
<-- Danse exhibition during the banquet
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You know that Steve Bernard finished with an
excellent 8th position and Luc Sauriol finished 17th. What we didn’t know at that time, was the fact that Luc finished third in the
35 + y.o. class. It is with big surprise that we eared the name of Luc during the awards presentation. Luc, who was occupied to fill his dish with food, leaved it there and went on the podium. We also had a video presentation about the next World Final from Team South Africa. Again, the lucky drivers that will race there will surely have a great time.
Steve on the starting grid for the pre-final -->
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On Monday, everybody enjoyed this day off.
We went to the track to test the new Max DD2 on the track. The journalists Russ Bond and Sébastien Blin tested and Patrick Moreau
from SRA Karting tested it. In the afternoon, some of us just relaxed beside the pool and some others went at the beach to rent jet skis.
< -- The new Max DD2, for “Direct Drive, 2 speeds”
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The day after, we moved in another hotel, a real
ocean front holiday resort. These few extra days where simply marvelous, considering the weather was much more a comfortable for the beach than karting. On Thursday night, the
drivers and the mechanics go back to the country while SRA Karting representatives enjoyed another couple of days where they did a nice boat trip in the Langkawi
archipelago and they visited Kuala Lumpur.
Few days off under the sun for the drivers -->
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Other pictures ...
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A happy winner |
Luc with his 3rd position in the 35 + class. |
Team Canada in the drivers parade |
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We had planes all over our head during the event |
The K-L Telecom tour |
Team Canada on the beach
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Russ Bond giving information to drivers on the track |
Christian with his new friend!
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Even in real, these tours look like a model |
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Sepang F1 racetrack is located
near the Kuala Lumpur airport |
During our transit in London, we went downtown
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Parachutists’ exhibition in KL. They jumped from the K-L Telecom Tour. |
