Polo Cup | Season’s Best Result for Robinson in Clouting East London Showdown
Sixteen-year-old Tyler Robinson recorded her best result of the season thus far following another stellar performance at the weekend. Robinson finished fourth overall at Round 5 of the Astron Energy Polo Cup, entertaining the large East London crowds in attendance.
Making her second appearance at South Africa's fastest circuit, the Gauteng teenager dug deep on Friday afternoon to ensure a shot at pole position. After enduring a few challenging practice sessions, the AF Fans-backed driver got through to the SuperPole shootout, where the top six drivers compete for the top starting position. Unfortunately, she was unable to improve her position.
Starting from sixth, she held her position as the field of similar VW Polos swept through the fast Potters Pass. Over the next few laps, Robinson could not make up any ground and lost touch with the top five runners, who were now benefiting from the slipstream effect. In what turned out to be an uneventful race for her, she crossed the finish line in sixth.
In Race 2, Robinson lost three positions at the start and dropped back to ninth. On the next lap, the former FIA Girls on Track finalist avoided the mayhem ahead and a sure accident as a competitor lost control of his car through the fast Potters Pass curve. Arriving at Cocobana Corner under braking, Robinson was now fifth. While she was still well adrift of her stable-mate Jeandre Marais in fourth, she put in several quick and consistent laps to close the gap to him. Once she caught up, she made the pass on the penultimate lap to take the chequered flag in fourth, her season's best result.
"I'm pretty stoked with that finish," Tyler said. "After losing so many places at the start, dropping back to ninth and finishing fourth is fantastic. There was a hairy moment through Potters when someone went off, which made it difficult to see, but I managed to find a line and kept it on the circuit. I just put my head down and tried to close the gap to Jeandre which I managed to do before passing him. Generally, we had a tough start to the weekend, but it improved throughout, and I'm pretty satisfied in the end. Thanks to my amazing team and to everyone for the support."
While the championship takes a short break, Round 6 will return to the Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town on 20-21 September.
Tyler thanks AF Fans, Freem Racing, RKT Racing, Universal Racing, Apex Gaming and Motorsport Fanatix.
