Interview: Aron on his Euro win and rookie season in Senior
Three delayed starts, a red flag and occasional rain throughout the race: the IAME Euro Series season finale in Genk presented the drivers with plenty of challenges. In the end it was MP Kartracing Team driver Aron Weeda who came out on top.
A dramatic conclusion to the weekend handed the Senior rookie his first international victory and podium finish.
After the race, we sat down with Aron to look back on a memorable race day and his debut season in the Senior category so far.
From his triumph in the Dutch IAME Championship to the challenges of racing at Senior level and his development as a driver.
With his first European victory now under his belt, Aron can look back on a debut Senior season in which he has increasingly established
himself among the category’s promising talents. Genk provided the biggest reward for that progress so far, but the season is not over yet.
With the IAME Benelux title fight followed by the IWF in Viterbo, him and the team still have two big races ahead of them.
Photo: MP Kartracing Team
A thrilling finale in Genk
Did you see the victory coming?
“No, not really. I thought we would have a chance to fight for a good result, but I didn’t expect us to actually win. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Talk us through the race. How did it unfold from your perspective?
“I started fifth and at the beginning we had two aborted starts and a red flag. It was really chaotic. Some people went for wet tyres while others
were on slicks, and the conditions kept changing. The track remained slippery and the rain constantly returned.
“During the race, I managed to gain a few positions. I eventually finished third on track. Afterwards, both the first and second-place finishers received penalties, which meant I inherited the victory. With a bit of chaos and some luck, you suddenly win your first European race.”
What was your reaction when you were told that you had won?
“Nobody really knew what was going to happen at first. We were already really happy with third place. Then we heard that the driver in second had received a penalty, so obviously the atmosphere got even better. After that, P1 was ‘under investigation’ and the tension just kept building.
“At one point Natalia, our data performance engineer, came back from the stewards and told us that he had received a penalty as well.
I just jumped for joy. I couldn’t have been happier.”
Looking back at the IAME Euro Series championship as a whole, what is your overall feeling about the season?
“I think it’s a shame that we weren’t able to show our true pace in every race. At the same time, I’m super happy and proud of the entire team that we were able to show what we’re capable of in the final race. That goes for Roxanne as well.”
Photo: Burke Motorsport Photography
stepping up to senior
Let’s reflect back at the Dutch IAME Championship, which you won, how do you look back on that weekend?
“It was a really good weekend. We were pretty quick right from the start. We didn’t really have many expectations because it was my first year in Seniors. In the end, things went so well that we won everything on Sunday. That was obviously a great way to start my Senior career.”
What do the experienced drivers in the IAME Euro field do particularly well?
“They are very smart when it comes to racing for themselves. In Juniors, you quickly get small groups of drivers working together because the tow makes a much bigger difference. In Seniors, that effect is smaller. The experienced Senior drivers know exactly how to make an overtake without losing too much time in the process. In terms of outright speed, the step from Junior to Senior wasn’t actually that big. The main difference is really the style of racing.
Looking back at the season so far, where do you feel you have improved the most as a driver?
“I think it’s definitely the way I race. I’ve improved in terms of speed as well, but I think the biggest step has been in my racecraft. At the beginning of the year, it was quite difficult racing against the ‘big guys’. With the experience I’ve gained since then, I think I’ve improved a lot in that area.”
How have you seen the team develop over the past six months?
“I think we’ve made a lot of progress with both the chassis and the engine, but we’ve also developed a lot as a team. Everyone has become much closer and we work together much better now. It’s a big step compared to where we were at the beginning of the season.”
How important is your relationship with Roxanne as a teammate? What is the advantage of having a fast driver you can compete with and learn from?
“If one of us is struggling with something, we can help each other with data and support. It also helps during the races. Because we’re both quick, we can work together to move forward through the field and help each other when needed. That’s a big advantage compared to teams that don’t have that.”
With the IAME Euro Series now behind you, where does the focus shift next?
“First, we have the final round of IAME Benelux in Mariembourg, where we’ll see if we can win the championship. At the moment, we’re second when taking the dropped result into account. After that, we’ll travel to Viterbo for the IWF. That’s really the race of the year, so it’s something we need to prepared for in the best way possible.”
Photo: MP Kartracing Team