Despite many of the Motorsport UK Wera Tools British Kart Championship classes only just reaching the halfway point of their campaigns, contenders in the IAME, TKM and Bambino classes head to Whilton Mill this weekend [19-21 August] for their penultimate meeting of the 2022 season.
The popular Northamptonshire circuit will see the progressive karters all eager to get their title tilts on track after a blistering season behind the wheel so far.
Another impressive entry list in the IAME Cadet, Junior X30 and Senior X30 classes will be bolstered by the ultra-competitive TKM Junior and Extreme racers who will also enjoy their fourth round of the BKC calendar. The Bambino drivers have tackled just two rounds so far and Whilton Mill marks their first outing since June.
In a busy schedule, the weekend will see plenty of on-track time for the championship protagonists who will be aiming to hit the ground running at the 1200-metre circuit. With its dynamic and flowing offering, the track layout will undoubtedly entertain as the battle for championship positions begin to gather pace.
Friday will play host to the Official Practice Sessions for the IAME and Bambino classes, which continue into Saturday morning with the addition of the TKM categories. Saturday also hosts Qualifying and first Heats whilst Sunday houses the all-important Finals.
As always, if you can’t make it trackside the British Kart Championships will be broadcasting all the action LIVE throughout Sunday and you can catch all the action on the dedicated BKC LIVE page [HERE]
Classes
IAME Cadet
Fusion Motorsport occupies seven of the first eight places in the IAME Cadet category and only Oliver Rowland Motorsport can stop the juggernaut with two meetings to go. Kit Belofsky returned to the top step of the Finals podium at Rissington last time out, but its championship leader Jesse Phillips who has the target on his back thanks to a twenty-point lead in the series.
Nearest challenger Jorge Edgar didn’t quite get hooked up at Rissington and was shy of the podium, meaning Jensen Graham and Henry Domain [Oliver Rowland Motorsport] closed the gap to 11 points.
Junior X30
Leo Robinson [Fusion Motorsport] proved he isn’t out of the title race just yet with an impressive Finals victory at Rissington. But he will need to work hard to catch Gabriel Stilp [Croc Promotion] who commands 21 points lead over Fionn McLaughlin [Fusion Motorsport]. Stilp had never finished off the podium of a Junior X30 Final in 2022 – until a tricky Rissington encounter and will need to regain his form to keep the chasing pack at bay.
Macauley Bishop [DHR] and Harry Burgoyne Jnr [Mick Barrett Racing] are separated by just seven points in fourth and fifth respectively.
Expect an epic tussle for the top places over the weekend as the championship starts to liven up.
Senior X30
Sam Shaw [Premium Karting] was uncatchable at Rissington with a clean sweep of Heats, Pre-Final and Final wins, taking his best BKC result in the process.
Bart Harrison [Mick Barrett Racing] could only manage fourth last time out but his nearest rivals in the standing didn’t fair much better and he retained a reasonable lead of 19 points heading into this weekend.
BMR’s Harry Platten is chasing hard but was well down the order at Rissington whilst Aaron Walker [Strawberry Racing] took fifth and now sits just two points adrift of Platten. Just a further point back is Thomas Flemming [DHR] with Gus Lawrence [PF International Karting] yet another single point behind.
With four points separating second to fifth, expect an interesting battle for the points-paying positions at the weekend.
Junior TKM
Leon Frost [TWM] has been almost untouchable in Junior TKM with just a third place blotting his copybook of Heats and Final wins. Unsurprisingly he has a 37-point advantage before the weekend with Olivia Jakins chasing hard in second.
She has a healthy advantage over Aiden Mitchell but needs a good set of results to challenge Frost for the championship lead. Ollie Rands is fresh from a podium and could make inroads on his fourth place, although Luke Bates [RSR] is likely to be having the same intentions.
TKM Extreme
Like its younger sibling, TKM Extreme has witnessed a dominant performance from one karter this season, Privateer Chris Whitton.
An impressive 39 points to the good, Whitton has performed impeccably and can head to Whilton Mill at ease, with nearest challenger Aaron Lask [RSR] having the hard work to do. Sam Johns [TWM] is third in the standings despite a difficult weekend at Rissington. A weekend to forget culminated in a Final’s nosecone penalty and will need to draw in big results to chase down Whitton.
Spencer Lanes [RSR] and Lee Whittingham are just two points apart with both karters able and almost certainly willing to improve their championship positions over the weekend. Yet another close contest from the TKM classes.
BAMBINO
Riley Murro has been the talk of the Bambino class in 2022, taking a maximum points haul in all but one opportunity so far this season. However, Chester Forkes is a slender 12 points adrift heading to the penultimate meeting of the season with Austin Oman just another two points shy.
Oman was hot on Murro’s heels all Final long at Glan-y-Gors, even managing to briefly lead on the penultimate lap, losing out by the narrowest of margins. Another closely contested weekend is in store for the youngest BKC racers as they close in on the coveted British Championship title.
ENTRY LISTS
For a full entry list of karters in each category this weekend, please click:
TIMETABLE
For a full timetable of the proceedings during the weekend – please click [HERE]
LIVE TIMING
Live timing for this year’s British Kart Championships is once again provided by Motorsport Timing UK and can be found [HERE]
Also, via this QR code:
LIVE COVERAGE
View the action:
On the dedicated BKC LIVE page [HERE]
The Motorsport UK YouTube Channel [HERE]
The British Kart Championship Facebook page [HERE]
Registrations are still open for the 2022 Wera Tools British Kart Championships, to register, visit: https://www.britishkartchampionships.org
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