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| April 16, 2009 |
| Formula Kart Stars - Round 1 Report |
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George Russell came out on top of a massive 63 kart entry at Kimbolton in Hunts for the new Formula Kart Stars series, backed by Bernie Ecclestone and Lewis Hamilton. Each driver had three heats and a final, Russell winning two of his for pole position in the A Final, with C and B finals for the less fortunate to try and progress. Persistent rain eased in the afternoon but the track never dried enough for slicks. Ricky Collard was out to emulate his father Rob's recent BTCC success, but found himself caught up in a first corner melee, only slightly delayed compared with Toby Sowery, Brandon Williams and Jake Walker who were much worse off after spins. Josh White and Russell settled down to pull clear of the battling pack and eventually Russell pulled a few kart lengths cushion, only narrowed when he played safe towards the end. "In fact, I wasn't really bothered if I came first or second as I've had a really good day," he said. Collard had left the rest behind, but ran out of laps to join the lead duo, whilst Harry Woodhead made startling progress from fourth last on the grid to fourth at the flag, from winning the B Final earlier.
Along with six others, Russell gambled badly on slick tyres for the damp qualifying session, admitting it was his decision. Relegated to the back of the C Final, he came second there, but spun down the order at the start of the B Final. The Sunday format was modelled on a Formula 1 race, timed qualifying and a Grand Final with no heats. Josh White had no sinecure in a multi-way race long lead dispute. Fastest in qualifying, Rory Cuff was into the lead first but gave way to Trevyn Jay Nelson before fading to eighth, then Matthew Graham hit the front whilst White was shuffled back to seventh. White worked his way back to the front, trading first with Nelson until Harry Webb lunged for the place. Alex Gill entered the equation, relegating Webb to sixth, White taking Graham on the last lap then Gill on the last corner for the win. "I just went up the inside of Alex and came out on top," said the winner and points leader whilst Gill added: "I thought I had a gap but Josh caught me loads on the straight and I had to defend."
The remaining classes had a timed qualifying with a series of pre-final races on the first round over the Saturday, then straight into a long final on the Sunday round after the time trials. In the larger classes there was also a repechage or second chance race. Red Bull's protégé Alexander Albon made a great start in the KF3 final for what seemed like an effortless win, but said: "The tyre pressures were too low when it started to rain again, so I was struggling for grip and didn't push too hard." Macaulay Walsh pulled clear of the rest as Bowyer and King came up from the back after a tangle in the pre-final which resulted in Bowyer crashing whilst King was excluded. They both deposed Jacob Stilp on their recovery drives. On Sunday the quick but unlucky Sennan Fielding ended in a tangle of some thirteen karts at the first corner, as Bowyer and Albon traded the lead. Bowyer slowed Albon with his strong defence, allowing Jordan King to catch and leapfrog both.
Only seven karts contested KF2, a new class for 'Stars', and on Saturday Josh Fielding prevailed over Max Hawkins whilst Raymie Eastwood was pushed wide at the start. On Sunday the drivers were out in the dry for the first time, and their varying setups ensured some exciting racing with many lead swaps. Eastwood admitted he didn't have the pace to sustain his turn at the front, and when Fielding sliced through at turn one, Jake Lloyd followed suit then mimicked Fielding's move to win. Once ahead of the Rotax Mini Max pack, Harry Crawley held off Bobby Thompson after several fancied runners including Luke Hughes spun at the start. On Sunday Jack Barlow and Hughes battled away until Hughes crashed out at the bus-stop. By then James Singleton had arrowed past both with a great turn of speed. The race was prematurely ended due to Steven Handford spearing off into the barriers. He had been up to fourth, battling with Luke Whitehead, Harry Crawley and Danny Sweeney. Afterwards Whitehead was excluded for a driving offence with four penalty points added to his licence.
Matt Parry took a dominant Junior Max win on Saturday, demoting the pole sitter Will Hunter. The latter driver was then deposed by his younger brother Henry whilst Luke Haynes was black flagged in for a warning talk out of second place. Parry's luck ran out on Sunday when he was pushed into a spin at the first corner. Ashley Hand had made the better start anyway, and was chased by Ollie Varney. Will Hunter's late challenge took him past Varney for second. "At the start I put my foot in first and managed to get in front, then it was really good, I kept really consistent," said Hand.
MSA British Cadet Championship
Round 1
1 George Russell (Zip) 13 laps in 11m 40.09s (42.28mph)
2 Josh White (Zip) +0.04s
3 Ricky Collard (Zip)
4 Harry Woodhead (Zip)
5 Alex Gill (Wright)
6 Connor Jupp (Zip)
Fastest lap: Russell 53.41s
Heat winners: Toby Sowery (Zip); Brandon Williams (Zip); Jupp; Collard; Russell; Collard; Russell
Starters: 63
Round 2
1 White 20 laps in 16m 21.25s
2 Gill +0.16s
3 Trevyn Jay Nelson (Zip)
4 Max Vaughan (Zip)
5 Matthew Graham (Tony Kart)
6 Harry Web (Tony Kart)
Fastest lap: Webb 48.27s.
Provisional points after Round 2:
1 Josh White 323
2 George Russell 310
3 Ricky Collard 297
4 Alex Gill 293
5 Adam McKay 287
6 Harry Webb 285
7 Connor Jupp 283
7 Toby Sowery 283
KF3
Round 1
1 Alexander Albon (Tony Kart) 14 laps in 11m 29.26s (46.24mph)
2 Macaulay Walsh (Birel) +5.07s
3 Callum Bowyer (Intrepid)
4 Jordan King (Maranello)
5 Jacob Stilp (Topkart)
6 Russell Danzey (BRM)
Fastest lap: Albon 48.70s.
Round 2
1 King 23 laps in 16m 7.61s (54.12mph)
2 Bowyer +0.07s
3 Albon
4 Walsh
5 Xavier Warburton (Birel)
6 Danzey
Fastest lap: Walsh 40.51
KF2
Round 1
1 Josh Fielding (Tony Kart) 14 laps in 11m 25.94s (46.47mph)
2 Max Hawkins (Birel) +1.56s
Raymie Eastwood (Birel)
4 Jake Lloyd (Tony Kart)
5 Max Robinson (Octane)
6 Harry Drysdale (Alonso)
Fastest lap: Fielding 48.38s.
Starters: 7
Round 2
1 Lloyd 24 laps in 16m 18.74s (55.83mph)
2 Fielding +1.74s
3 Eastwood
4 Robinson
5 Hawkins
6 Drysdale
Fastest lap: Robinson 40.28s.
Mini Max
Round 1
1 Harry Crawley (Tony Kart) 13 laps in 11m 13.27s (43.96mph)
2 Bobby Thompson (Alonso) +0.88s
3 Jack Barlow (Octane)
4 Danny Sweeney (Tony Kart)
5 Charlie Robertson (Alonso)
6 Callum Hardgrave (Tony Kart)
Fastest lap: Barlow 51.34s
Starters: 43
Round 2
1 James Singleton (Tony Kart) 19 laps in 13m 58.82s (43.59mph)
2 Barlow +0.51s
3 Harry Crawley (Tony Kart)
4 Sweeney
5 Steven Handford (Tony Kart)
6 Jay Goodwin (Alonso)
Fastest lap: Robertson 43.44s.
Junior Max
Round 1
1 Matt Parry (Kosmic) 13 laps in 10m 58.28s (44.96mph)
2 Henry Hunter (Gillard) +2.41s
3 Will Hunter (Gillard)
4 Hector Hurst (Tony Kart)
5 Josh Parker (Tony Kart)
6 Ollie Varney (Alonso)
Fastest lap: Ashley Hand (Kosmic) 50.32s
Starters: 44
Round 2
1 Ashley Hand (Kosmic) 23 laps in 16m 18.72s (53.50mph)
2 Hunter +4.76s
3 Varney
4 Andy King (Maranello)
5 Hurst
6 Parry
Fastest lap: Andy King (Maranello) 42.11s |
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