Sammut Snatches Honda Victory

Round 9 of the Ellough Park Non-MSA Championships took place under initially threatening skies but to everyone’s relief the weather stayed dry throughout the days proceedings.

Once again a bumper grid of Honda Cadets were set to do battle with championship hopeful Archie Albone returning after two meetings away. Also back in action was reigning champion Ben Kasperzcak who missed last months meeting while competing at the London Cup. In the Comer class the cicuit greeted drivers from the Formula Kart Stars national series who were taking in vital track time ahead of their final round in a fortnights time. The Junior classes were also boosted with FKS drivers as the RL Racing Dept. competed on home soil for the first time in Non-MSA this season. The Seniors again had a strong grid but unfortunately John Vincent was forced to withdraw after practice to due aggravating a non-karting related injury.

The Comer Heats saw an epic three-way battle between Ross Martin, Daniel McAuley and Lewis Taylor with the three drivers never separated by more than half a second throughout the three races. In heat one a well timed last lap pass gave Martin the win, a feat he repeated in Heat 2. Heat 3 almost went his way as well but this time it was McAuley who snatched the win by a mere bumper width. Behind them novice driver Max Fenlon was gaining experience and his lap times tumbled substantially during the day on his first visit to Ellough Park. In the final it was Taylor who stole the early advantage and managed to fend off his pursuers for twelve laps. On the penultimate lap Martin dived through at turn one and was followed by McAuley. This order remained the same until two corners to go when a small mistake by Martin bunched all three drivers up resulting in contact sending Martin and McAuley wide allowing Taylor to snatch the win. However, Taylor was deemed at fault by the Clerk of the Course and was duely docked two positions giving Martin the win ahead of McAuley.

The Honda Cadet class was as closely fought as ever and the opening heat seemed to set the scene for the day with an in-form Sam Fitzpatrick taking the win ahead Albone with Luke Whitehead in third. Heat 2 saw Michael Hughes convert his pole position into the lead in the early stages and for many laps held off the charging Fitzpatrick before a small mistake dropped him to second. Hughes clung on to the back of the leader and so nearly made his way back to the front but at the flag it was Fitzpatrick first ahead of Hughes with Perry Cooke, building on the form from his maiden win last month, in third. Disaster struck for Fitzpatrick in Heat 3 when his throttle cable snapped at the start eliminating him from the race. This left the way clear for Cooke to blast away at the front with Albone pursuing in second. It was Albones turn for bad luck next as he lost his chain on lap four allowing Louis Back through to second. Back was driving a brilliant race, soaking up the pressure from the pack headed by Oliver Grantham. At the flag it was Cooke who took the win ahead of the impressive Back with Grantham in third. The scene was set then for the Final with Cooke on pole with Fitzpatrick alongside. At the start Cooke held the lead but was under massive pressure from Fitzpatrick. Behind the leading duo Jean Sammut was carving his way through the field and was up to third by lap five. Fitzpatrick took the lead on lap 6 after a mistake from Cooke but the two remained nose-to-tail. On lap nine a heavy collision between the race leaders dropped them back behind new race leader Sammut and Whitehead. Both recovered positions but at the flag it was Sammut who took his second win of the season with Cooke second, Whitehead third and Fitzpatrick a massively disappointed fourth. However, the Clerk of the Course deemed Cooke responsible for the collision between him and Fitzpatrick so a five place penalty was issued demoting Cooke to seventh. This promoted Fitzpatrick to third ahead of Albone, Hughes and Grantham. Top novice driver went to Tom Bayley who came home twelfth overall.

The Junior classes saw a mesmerising display in the Junior Rotax Class from FKS driver Nick Arthur who dominated the three heats and Final, showing that he will be right at the front for the national round. Behind him Charlie Starsmoore and Benjamin Bee battled all day long for second place joined by Mark Phelps in his Junior TKM. Starsmoore eventually took second ahead of Bee, sandwiching the ever quick Phelps. In the Minimax class it was again the FKS drivers who dominated. Heat 1 went the way of Rob Hodkinson ahead of team-mate Josh White, this order being reversed in Heat 2. Heat 3 saw Hodkinson back on top ahead of White while Non-MSA regular Adam Hatfield put in a terrific performance to still be close the leaders at the end of the race. The Final again saw the RL Racing Dept. duo at the front with the order remaining the same to the flag, Hodkinson taking the win ahead of White and Hatfield.

A strong field of Senior Rotax drivers took to the track and the opening spoils of the day went to last months winner Craig Pollard who fought his way to the front just pipping championship leader Vince Mallett with James Canham in third. Heat 2 saw Teddie Harvey take the early lead and he soon pulled away from the field. Pollard again had to fight to the front and once he did he reeled in Harvey and was right on his tail on the final lap. Harvey drove a defensive final lap to just hold on to the win ahead of Pollard and Canham. Heat 3 this time saw Pollard away at the front from the start, a position he would hold to the flag. Behind him there were brilliant performances from Stephen Gluckstein who came home a seasons best second ahead of Ben Kidd, another seasons best. The Final got underway with Pollard and Harvey breaking away at the front with Mallett not far behind in third. Behind them Arron Burnage was putting in an inspired performance to hold on to fourth place. On lap nine though Canham tried to pass Burnage, tangling wheels and sending Canham wildly spinning over the top of Burnage. In the ensuing chaos Steve Jennis was sent into a heavy roll ending upside-down in the middle of the circuit. He quickly clambered out from under his kart and moved it to the side in order to keep the race going. The mayhem left the top three way ahead of the pack and at the flag it was Pollard taking the win ahead of Harvey and Mallett. Steven Knowles came home fourth ahead of the ever improving Gluckstein. The officials also awarded the coveted Driver of the Day trophy to Pollard for his outstanding driving during the meeting.

Round 10 of the championship takes place on Saturday 15^th October with Signing-on beginning at 8am, Practice 9am-11am, Drivers Briefing at 1130am and the Racing beginning at 12pm. Please ensure you get your entries in early either via email or by phoning 01502 717718.