First Blood for Fitzpatrick

Sam Fitzpatrick got his 2011 Cadet Summer Series campaign off to the best possible start with a stunning display at the opening round of the championship. With Winter Series champion Michael Hughes now concentrating on his Honda Cadet duties things looked like they may be a little easier for young Sam. However, he would still have the ever improving Oliver Grantham to contend with along with the welcome return of Henry Dixon, back after suffering a broken ankle that ruled him out of the 2010 series while leading at the halfway stage.

The opening heat got underway with Dixon charging into an early lead ahead of Grantham with Fitzpatrick making a slow getaway. Cayd Breslin challenged the leaders early on but soon Fitzpatrick was back on pace with them. Grantham dived past Dixon into the lead on lap 4 and was soon followed by Fitzpatrick, who sat behind until lap 7 before executing a well timed lunge into turn 2 to snatch the lead. He then went on to pull out a two second gap and take the chequered flag ahead of Grantham and Dixon.

Heat 2 saw Fitzpatrick starting from pole position and he never looked back, leading from start-to-finish. Behind him Dixon was caught up in an early accident with Harry Weaver but soon set about charging back through the field. He made his way up to third before finding a gap rapidly close in front of him while challenging for second causing him to spin and drop back to sixth. That left Fitzpatrick alone at the front to win again ahead of Grantham with Breslin in third.

The final Heat began with Mitchell Fenn on pole, looking to regain the form that saw him score two consecutive podiums in the Winter Series. He lead them around the first lap before losing out to Dixon midway around lap 2. While trying to retake the lead he spun and was collected heavily by Weaver. Both drivers pulled off the circuit to catch their breath before rejoining the action showing that the Cadet drivers are made of tough stuff! Meanwhile, Grantham had now snatched the lead from Dixon who was falling back into the clutches of Fitzpatrick and Breslin. Some excellent defensive driving would see Dixon hold on to second at the line behind Grantham and ahead of Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick would start the Final from pole with Grantham alongside him on the front row and as in Heat 2 Fitzpatrick dived into a lead that he would never relinquish. Grantham however got a slow start falling down to fourth but was soon challenging Dixon for second. On lap 5 he made his move and set off in pursuit of Fitzpatrick. Dixon wasn’t done though and challenged back on the very next lap but suffered a spin, losing ground but retaining second place. The battle for fifth went all the way to the wire with Callum Goldsmith defending heavily from a recovering Fenn. At the flag it was Fitzpatrick who took the win at close to lap record pace ahead of Grantham with Dixon rounding out the podium. Breslin crossed the line in fourth with Goldsmith just pipping Fenn for fifth. Weaver came home seventh and in the process smashed his personal best lap time by over a second, there is a lot more to come from this young driver.

Fitzpatrick leads the championship at this early stage 12 points clear of Grantham, but there is still a long way to go with many twists and turns in store. To get involved in the Cadet League or for more information call the circuit on 01502 717718.

British Historic Kart Club 16/17th April

British Historic Kart Club!! What an amazing weekend of old school karts! All of us here at Ellough Park would like to thank everyone who took part and made it down to see these lovingly restored retro karts. Nothing younger than a 1982 chassis was allowed out at the weekend (Talking about the karts before you all ask). I personally would like to thank the drivers for their great compliments over the weekend about the marshals and there hard work out on track! Thanks once again to everyone and i hope we can invite you all back in the near future.

Warner Wins Winter Warmer

The Juniors final Winter Series round would see a titanic battle between three drivers for the title. Aiden Durrant and Jak Warner were tied on points going into the final with Matt Baisley just a further 9 points adrift in third. Fourteen drivers took to the grid and for the opening heat it was Durrant on pole position. He would lead the race from start to finish ahead of a storming drive from Warner who started tenth with Sam Cordner an excellent third.

Heat 2 and this time Warner had an easier run start from pole and leading all ten laps. The drive through the field this time came from Baisley who came home second having started eleventh. Third across the line this time was rookie sensation Charles McGregor.

Heat 3 saw Baisley continue the run of lights to flag victories leading all the way from pole position. Andrew Curtis followed him home in second with Warner an important third giving him pole position for the final.  At this stage in the proceedings it now looked like a two horse race with Durrant now seemingly out of the picture.

The final got underway with a tense atmosphere having fallen over the spectators as they watched the series placings being battled out over fifteen laps. At the start it was Durrant who leapt into the lead, determined to win and hope that circumstances behind would win him the title. At the early stage of the race it looked as though it might with both Baisley and Warner struggling in traffic. However they were soon right on Durrants tail and just after half distance they pounced and demoted young Aiden to third. It was now a battle of wits between the two elder statesmen in the series with neither of them having won a title before. The swapped places on many occasions but at the flag it was Baisley who just clung on for victory, but was it enough for the title?

It wasn’t, Warner had won his first Junior title by just one point, the closest finish to a Junior series in the circuits history. Durrant, who was joint leader coming into the final round looked disappointed with third but surely his time will come as one of the youngest in the field.

The opening round of the 2011 Summer Series takes place on April 28^th with reigning Cadet champion Craig Cummings looking to make the step up. With experienced drivers and rising talent all mixed together the ’11 season looks like being a classic!

Hughes Dominates to Winter Glory

The final round of the Cadet League Winter Series saw a head to head battle between Sam Fitzpatrick and Michael Hughes, separated by only 2 points going into the meeting. Again it was wet weather that greeted the drivers, something they have become well accustomed to having not had a dry meeting since the previous June!

Heat 1 Saw Fitzpatrick start from pole and he immediately made use of it by storming into an early lead. Hughes had to battle his way through from near the back of the grid but was soon up with the leaders. Regin Masters ran at the front for much of the race before a late spin dropped him down the order. At the flag it was a convincing win for Fitzpatrick followed home by Oliver Grantham and Hughes.

Heat 2 saw the turn of Hughes to have a lights-to-flag victory, leading all the way from pole position. Fitzpatrick weaved his way through the field to come home in second place with an on form Masters taking an excellent third place.

Heat 3, and this time both Hughes and Fitzpatrick would start towards the tail of the field with Grantham on pole. At the start it was Hughes who made the most progress while Fitzpatrick suffered an uncharacteristic spin dropping him to almost last. Hughes soon caught Grantham and led the field to the chequered flag ahead of Grantham and Mitchell Fenn. Fitzpatrick had a spirited drive to fourth.

With just the Final to go it was now Hughes in the driving seat with a slender points lead and pole position. At the start Hughes took off like a rat up a drainpipe and despite Fitzpatricks best efforts he was destined not to be caught. Behind the leading duo Fenn chased Grantham all the way for the final podium place, stealing it away on the penultimate lap. At the flag it was Hughes who took his second win of the campaign and with it the Winter Series title. Fitzpatrick took a hard earned second overall with Grantham just pipping Fenn in the points to take third.

The 2011 Summer Series begins on April 27^th with many drivers, established and rookies, already signed up to compete. To book a place call the circuit on 01502 717718.