UK karting
“The one thing about TVKC and PFI,” Edwards adds, “is that it comes as a package, and it may never be a Bahrain but we have fantastic infrastructure with restaurants and bars, tarmac to stand on and power for everyone in the paddock. The whole package, in my estimate, is one of the best in the world. Bahrain is stunning, but you’d never be able to build that here.” Edwards maintains that PFI is a relatively smallscale operation and TVKC depends hugely on entry and membership fees, which is why the FIA event was so important to the track. “It’s not easy, but with the wonderful people at Trent Valley this international competition is here, and I’m absolutely honoured to be chairman of TVKC at this championship.” The atmosphere at PFI over the weekend did indeed resemble a community – and a bustling one at that as the hum and crackle of karts provided the soundtrack to an exciting event. “It’s difficult to create an atmosphere, but I hope when people come away from here they can feel that buzz in the paddock. That would be my dream come true,” says Edwards. With drivers such as Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Billy Monger and Lando Norris all joining Alonso at the event, the importance of this competition resonated across the motor sport community. “I was surprised by PFI – it’s the first time I’ve been here,” says Schumacher, whose KSM team had six drivers entered. “Although it’s quite old, the track is quite modern and it’s a very nice facility. “Without karting, it’s clear that there would be no race drivers,” he adds. “But you cannot guarantee that a good karter is a good Formula 1 driver, or vice versa. It can be the case that an average karting driver jumps into a car and feels happy. “[In karting] they get familiar with race situations, with starts and racecraft at an early age. You are able to make mistakes that are relatively cheap to do in karting compared to big cars, and being able to race at least six times per weekend you get a lot more track time.” “I’m just proud that people want to come here, like the Montoyas and the Schumachers,” says Edwards. “It’s brilliant. In our club, and in UK karting, we’re the start for these kids. “The drivers are eight or nine years old when they begin; we bring them up and they understand flags and track warnings. As a result, they get to 13 or 14 with a fantastic grounding. It must mean something to these guys too if they want to come to our kart meeting.”
OK Class winner Danny Keirle with his spoils and, right, OK Junior winner Dexter Patterson – both are homegrown British talents
“I’m just proud that people want to come here, like the Montoyas and Schumachers” 38 Karting_GR GC.indd 4
Through all of this camaraderie and community spirit, there could only be one winner in each class at the end of the weekend, but as a testament to Britain’s strong foundations in grassroots motor sport, two homegrown talents took the spoils. Danny Keirle triumphed in the OK Class, having dominated the event (with five victories from six heats) to take pole position for the final. He continued as he began: with a lights-to-flag win. Dexter Patterson, who took the lead in the opening lap of the final from third place, withstood immense pressure to secure the OK Junior Class title. A fantastic grounding, indeed. n
www.msauk.org / Winter 2017
01/12/2017 14:26