COOL FOR KARTS

The season started at Cadwell Park in May as part of the Modified Live event. While the Superkart grid could have accommodated more entries, the talent on show was of the highest order with British and former European Champions determined to get an early haul of points.

Local driver Lee Harpham (Division 1) was unbeaten across the three races (two counting towards the championship). Liam Morley had to play second best in the first two encounters and was hoping to improve on his score in the final race. But a big end failure, while leading, put him out at half distance. Reigning F250 National British Champion Lee Plain also got his season off to a flyer with maximum points. Kosta Kyritsis (F450 National) and Jack Tritton (F125 Open) were also double winners.

The championship moved on to Anglesey in June, where unfortunately, none of the F450 drivers were entered. Liam Morley was uncatchable in the Division 1 class and took three wins plus a new lap record for the International circuit. It was Harpham’s turn to finish in the runner-up spot. That meant that after four scoring rounds Morley and Harpham were tied on points ahead of the final rounds at Donington Park. Lee Plain added two more wins to his tally in the F250 National class but was caught up in a first corner accident in the last race. He managed to rejoin the race a lap adrift while victory went to his brother Luke. The honours were shared in the F125 Open category with Jack Tritton, Ross Witherow and Shane Stoney taking a win apiece. Witherow was looking for his second win of the weekend in the final race but spun out on the final corner.

And so to the final rounds at Donington Park in September. With Morley and Harpham tied on points, we were in for an exciting finale. They were never separated by more than seven-tenths of a second in Race 1 with Harpham leading. But when contact was made with a backmarker on the final lap Morley squeezed past to take the win, Harpham finishing with a damaged nosecone. Harpham knew he had to beat Morley in the final encounter to stand any chance of taking the title. He led the first 3 laps before Morley took over. But there was late drama. Morley’s top hose came off and he lost all the water from his VM motor, parking up at the Fogarty Esses on the final lap. Harpham saved a massive slide through Craner Curves whilst lapping a backmarker and despite a bent axle finished in second place to secure the British Championship for the Division 1 category. The race win went to Carl Hulme. Lee Plain kept up his winning streak with another double to retain his F250 National crown. The F450s were back in action and Kosta Kyritsis took a pair of wins and the title. Shane Stoney (F125 Open) was also a double winner, but that wasn’t enough to win the championship. Jack Tritton’s pair of seconds were good enough for him to become the class champion.

There was also drama in the Motorsport UK British Superkart Grand Prix that same weekend at Donington Park. Carl Hulme (Division 1) led the first five laps chased by Morley, but there was a contentious change of lead whilst lapping backmarkers. Morley eased clear to take his tenth Grand Prix title while Hulme dropped back with an engine issue but still held onto second spot. Jack Bliss was the surprise package in the F250 National class but dropped out from the lead with a nipped piston. Lee Plain took over but was lacking straight line speed and he was caught and passed by Kirk Cattermole. Using a 20-year-old TM engine, Cattermole held off a late challenge from Paul Platt to take the GP title. Kosta Kyritsis was heading for the win in the F450 class but a spin on the penultimate lap dropped him behind Ollie Ridout, a surprised but happy winner. Shane Stoney emulated his multi-champion father by taking the Grand Prix win in the F125 Open class.