2011 Season Summary
Tuesday, 20 December 2011 20:34
It was fantastic to see nearly 20 Comer Cadets joining the championship and they provided us with an exciting season with Josh Skelton emerging as the eventual winner from Jack Brailsford and Leo Spencer. Ben Thompson again took the honours in the Honda Cadet grid with Jonathan Paylor and Ewan Tindall following closely behind.
The Junior grids, once again, proved that there was good racing to be had all round with the outcome having to wait until the last round to be finalised. The Mini Max was won by Chad Little, who was followed home by Jordan Baines and Ben Wilcox. A excellent grid of Junior Max drivers enjoyed some exciting racing, the overall winner eventually being claimed by Corby Gormley from Lewis Binks and Mat Booth. 2011 saw a welcome return to the Championship by the Junior TKM grid, which was won by Daniel Barber from Robert Forsythe. .
The Rotax Max grid saw a massive increase in numbers and again gave excellent close racing with the outcome decided before the last round. The winner this year was Eliott Cotton followed home by Andrew Lawrence and Jack Harding.
In the NKF gearbox championship for 125 ICC it was Tom Witts who eventually triumphed for the second year in succession. He was followed home Liam Morley and Tom Moore.
Once again, the Northern Karting Federation hosted the ABkC SUPER 4 Championships for 125 ICC UK and Formula 250. The Formula 250 grid remained at a steady number and the points table showed that it was very tight at the top with just 1 points separating the top two. The well deserved winner this year was James Hassall who eventually lifted the much sought after No. 1 plate from last years winner Lee Stamp with third place driver Nick Willcox chasing them to the end. The 125 ICC class, once again, proved to have consistent numbers with great competition and rivalry between the drivers. The number 1 plate this year went to Daniel Borton after a well fought battle throughtout the season and just 5 points separating him from the No. 2 driver this year James Glenister. Last years’ winner Dafydd Iles lifted the No. 3 plate.
The annual prizegiving and trophy presentation was held, as it has been for the past couple of years, at the Kartmania show at the beginning of December. With over 50 prizes and trophies to be distributed it was a very well attended event with only 4 drivers not putting in an appearance to collect their awards. This year saw the drivers leaving the centre stage with vouchers to enjoy a day at the Rookin House Activity centre in Penrith, tyres, kartcams, memory sticks, vouchers, hats, champagne and a vast variety of prizes which had been donated by our kind sponsors. Each class winner also took away a canvas print of themselves. The ABkC trophy winners also received cheques from their tyre fund.
The NKF is intended to be a Clubman championship giving drivers the opportunity to compete in a championship without too much expense. The entry fees are capped at £90 per round which includes the Saturday practice as well as Sunday’s race fees. The drivers compete in the Club grids giving both drivers and clubs an increased grid to race in. Tyres and fuel are to Blue book regulations and therefore no extra expenses are placed on the drivers. The championship takes place over 7 rounds with 6 to count giving the competitors the flexibility of missing a round for all classes with the exception of the 125 ICC UK class which will remain at 6 rounds with 5 to count. The Championship this year will visit Rowrah, Fulbeck, Larkhall, Wigan, GYG, Hooton Park and, for the first time, PFI. Drivers entering our championship and racing at the PFI round will not be required to join the club and this will give drivers an opportunity to drive this circuit without being a club member.
The ABkC S4 gearbox championships for the 2012 season will again be contested over 6 rounds with the worst three heat and one final scores being dropped to give an overall champion and the coveted No. 1 plate. For the 2012 season, we will be visiting Rowrah, Shenington, Rissington, Llandow, Fulbeck and Forest Edge. Again the entry costs are capped at £90 for Saturday practice and Sunday racing with tyres and fuel being to Blue book regulations.
Once again we must thank all the Clubs who hosted our rounds during the 2011 season and made our competitors so welcome. We also need to thank the sponsors who donated prizes so generously for our drivers – these include JAG, TalKo, AF Racing, Zip North West, Anderson CSK, Atlantic racing, Trax and Eurokart.
The 2012 championship is now open and registrations coming in at a vast rate. All information about the championship can be found at www.northernkartingfederation.co.uk.