After a disappointing start, Mathilda Paatz literally got her act together again at the FIA European Karting Championship race in Trinec, Czech Republic: A technical defect destroyed the important qualifying session, so that the DPK-Racing driver had to start from the back of the field in the heats. The initial frustration turned into a desire for overtaking manoeuvres, so that Paatz shone with numerous position gains over the course of the weekend.
The start of the FIA European Kart Championship in Trinec went anything but according to plan for Mathilda Paatz. Already in the second free practice, shortly before the start of the important timed practice, the engine on her kart suddenly seized, at the end of the start-finish straight of all places, one of the fastest sections of the track. The young woman from Cologne spun, but managed to avoid a violent crash.
"I was scared silly," Paatz admitted honestly. "At the end of the straight you have top speed on it, then you turn 180 degrees on the track and see your competitor flying towards you." The following rider was able to take evasive action, but spun himself off the track. Having escaped with a scare, preparations for the important qualifying session continued.
Because in Trinec, where the track is very narrow and full of bends, qualifying takes on an important significance. Full of motivation, Paatz started on her fast lap, but once again the spectators were to hold their breath. The 14-year-old was on the same spot when the engine blocked again and Paatz spun once more. This time, the competition was even closer behind her, which is why the driver behind her crashed into the track barrier almost without braking in order to avoid a high-speed crash. Fortunately, he only complained of bruises on his foot.
With frustration to success
Paatz was emotionally scarred by the renewed moment of shock. Father Michael and the DPK team had to calm the young talent down and rebuild her mentally. Thanks to regular mental training, the DPK-Racing pilot was able to quickly refocus and shine just two hours later with an ambitious catch-up race.
All the frustration from the ruined qualifying was vented in the first heat: Starting the race from 27th place, the Cologne native got off to a good start and made up important places already on the first lap. With fast lap times and good overtaking manoeuvres, the promotional driver from the German Sport Driver's Association made it to a good 18th place in the end. That was balm for the battered soul and kept hopes high for a conciliatory finish in Trinec.
In the second heat, Paatz had to record a retirement through no fault of her own. In a strong opening phase, the DPK driver fought her way to the front before she was turned around by an opponent and had to end the race. In the third heat, the 14-year-old shone again: With strong overtaking manoeuvres, the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé fought her way to 19th place.
In the fourth heat, Paatz continued her strong recovery from the previous races and fought her way to the front with strong overtaking manoeuvres. Unfortunately, the 14-year-old overlooked a yellow flag in the heat of the moment, so that she received a five-second time penalty following the race and was thus thrown back from a good 18th place to 22nd. In the fifth and final heat, Paatz was once again in a promising position when she was knocked down by a rival. Although she was able to continue the race, she only reached 23rd place.
A botched Superheat at the end
Although the chances of reaching the final had already been extinguished by the failed qualifying, Paatz wanted to convince once again in the final Superheat. "I felt like giving it my all again, the frustration from qualifying was long forgotten," said Paatz, who caused a stir in the early stages with good lap times and manoeuvres worth seeing.
After just a few laps, Paatz had already fought her way up to 25th place overall when a driving error caused her to go off the track, losing around five seconds and dropping to the back of the field. There was no time to catch up again, so the DPK driver was ultimately classified in 24th place overall as a result of several time penalties. Compared to her starting position, this represented an improvement of ten places, but was by no means satisfactory. The lap times, which would have enabled a result in the top 15, also show that Paatz would have been much further ahead.
"The disappointment from qualifying ruined the whole weekend for me," Paatz sums up. "With a better starting position, more would have been possible. In the heats I was able to prove that I am not afraid of the duels. That really made me want to do it! I leave the Czech Republic with mixed feelings: Frustration about the disappointing start and the mistake in the Superheat, but joy about the good performance in the races."
In a fortnight (31.05. to 03.06.) Mathilda Paatz will start at the Champions of the Future Euro Series in Rodby, Denmark, to prepare for the European Championship race (15. to 18.06.) on the same track.
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