Whilst many of the Motorsport UK Wera Tools British Kart Championship classes head towards the final throws of the season, there are some categories which are just getting warmed up.
After two action-packed events so far this season, the contenders in the Rotax classes will head to Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire this weekend (28-29 August) for their third encounter of 2021 and a thrilling double-header.
Marking the halfway point of their six-event calendar, another bumper entry list will be bolstered by the ultra-competitive TKM racers who will also enjoy their third and penultimate round of the BKC calendar.
Joining the British Kart Championships at the circuit, will be a one-off Rotax qualifying event for the Micromax class, offering up the opportunity to progress to the Rotax Grand Finals in Bahrain in December.
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 gather pace.
With three rounds in three months coming up for the Rotax classes and just one further round remaining for the TKM category; expect fireworks during the weekend! Saturday will host qualifying, heats and first Finals of the weekend for the Rotax classes with Sunday repeating the format for the Rotax double-header adding finals for the TKM classes.
As always, if you can’t make it trackside the British Kart Championships will be broadcasting all the action LIVE throughout Sunday thanks to our friends at Alpha Live, with feeds being pushed to our Facebook page, YouTube and Motorsport.TV during the day.
Classes preview
Rotax
Minimax
The Minimax class has been dominated by Strawberry Racing’s Ethan Jeff-Hall in 2021, taking a rain-soaked opening round win at Clay, backed up with yet another at Mansell Raceway. But there are only 17 points separating him from Harrison Crowther (Coles Racing) and with Scott Marsh (DHR) just a single point further back, the championship standings could well look different by the time the series heads into the second half of the season. Levi Earl (Vision Motorsport). Reg Heywood (Coles Racing) and Arun Phull (Xcel Motorsport) round out the top five in the standings.
Junior Rotax
Such is the strength of the Junior Rotax contenders, you will need to look across the entire field of entries to pick a winner with 17th place man Archie Walker (KR-Sport) taking top spot last time out in Devon. Fourth place from Olly Stevens (DHR) was enough to vault him into the championship lead as then championship leader Daniel Guinchard (Argenti Motorsport) was unable to take the start.
In a seismic shift of the standings, Leon Henderson (Strawberry Racing) is just four points behind Stevens with Daniel Armstrong (DHR) just two further back. Just 38 points separate the top ten; choose a winner if you dare.
Senior Rotax
Whilst it was Lewis Gilbert (Potenza Racing Engines) who claimed his first win of the season last time around, Rhys Hunter’s (DHR) second spot and heat win kept him at the top of the championship, ahead of younger brother Kai (DHR). It’s Mattie Hingley (Ultimate-R) who mounts the closest charge on the unique family one-two, with Gilbert in fourth. Sean Butcher (KR-Sport) rounds out the top five heading to Whilton.
Rotax 177
Strawberry Racing have taken two wins from two rounds thanks to Daniel Tate, but it hasn’t always been an easy victory for the 177 racer. Privateer Ian Branfield was forced to skip the season opener but took second at Mansell and could well climb the leader board at Whilton. Louis Large (Coles Racing) is second in the standings but just two points ahead of Phillip Hawarth who was forced to retire in Devon. Taking third at Mansell, Matthew Easton (KR-Sport) sits a further 10 back with Sam Winter fifth.
TKM
Junior TKM
The impressive TKM categories have just four rounds in 2021 – with everyone most certainly counting. A tour-de-force in Junior TKM so far this season has been Alistair Cresswell. Aside from the opening heat of the year, Cresswell has won every pre-final and final to sit 14 points clear of the chasing Alfie Garford. Close behind is TWM’s James Morley in third, just two points adrift before a big gap to team mates Joseph Booth and Leon Frost.
TKM Extreme
Joe Fowler put in a storming comeback drive at Kimbolton from 13th spot in Qualifying to win both the Pre-Final and Final for Klaassen Motorsport but would only take him to fourth in the championship as James Pashley leads the way.
Despite dropping out of the podium spots last time out, he retains the championship lead by nineteen points from Litchfield Motorsport’s Joseph Reeves-Smith who in turn is just three points ahead of Theo Hesketh (TWM). Lewis Wadley (Precision Racing) rounds out the top five but the leader board could well see a shakeup after the weekend’s action.