Warner Waltzes to Maiden Win

Warner Waltzes to Maiden Win

The opening Round of the 2012 Ellough Park Kart Club kicked off with many new drivers joining the ranks alongside established names. Reigning Honda Cadet champion Archie Albone had made the move up to Junior TKM while Harry Holdbrook and Benjamin Bee were both back to defend their respective Minimax and Junior Rotax titles. The Senior Rotax class appeared to wide open with reigning champion Vince Mallett taking a sabbatical and vice-champion Craig Pollard now racing cars.

The days action began with the Honda Cadets being the first class to sample the new timed qualifying. Last years vice-champion Sam Fitzpatrick drew first blood with a stunning time on the slippery track to take pole position ahead of Jason Hutton and Perry Cooke. Fitzpatrick converted pole into a win in the Heat, winning by eleven seconds ahead of Hutton and newcomer Jenson Newbury. The points from qualifying and the heat set the grid for the Pre-Final placing Fitzpatrick on pole again. The conditions had now dried considerably and Cooke took full advantage, blasting through to the lead early on. He eventually won by nine seconds ahead of Fitzpatrick and Hutton to earn himself pole for the Final. At the start of the Final Cooke got a poor start dropping behind Fitzpatrick but on lap 5 he pulled off a brave manoeuvre around the outside of turn 5 to take the lead.By now Fitzpatrick was struggling badly with heavily worn tyres but he bravely battled on for the final podium positions. By the end of race Cooke had pulled out a four second advantage to take the opening victory ahead of impressive newcomer Newbury with Hutton just fighting of Fitzpatrick for third. The Libra Cadet honours went the way of Bradley Kent.

In Junior TKM James Clarke took pole ahead of Louis Back and Connor Smith with Albone on the pace in fourth. Clarke also took the win in the Heat with Smith and Back swapping places in second and third. The Pre-Final saw Clarke come unstuck, dropping out of the race in the latter stages leaving Back clear to take the win and pole for the Final. The Final got underway on a nearly dry track but on lap four the heavens opened and Smith took full advantage to pull out a big lead. Clarkes day got even worse when he crashed out of the race on lap 10. At the flag it was Smith who took the win ahead of Back and Albone.

In the Minimax class William Bennett took pole position ahead of Holdbrook and Tye Mason. The Heat saw the same result with Ronnie Hirst and Lewis Kent in touch in fourth and fifth. Bennett stormed to another win in the Pre-Final ahead of a resurgent Kent and Hirst. The Final saw Bennett pull away at the start on the drying track but when the rain came again Hirst surged ahead as the only driver who had gambled on wet tyres. By the end he had lapped the entire field to claim his maiden Minimax victory ahead of Bennett and Holdbrook.

In Junior Rotax it was newcomer Samuel Wilson who took pole in qualifying, a feat he repeated in the Heat. In the Pre-Final it was Bee who took the win with Luke Collins second after Wilson had gambled on slicks. Wilson bounced back in the Final however and after a race long battle with Bee he took the win with Collins in third. Zack Nickson took the Junior Easykart honours.

Nineteen drivers took the circuit for the Senior Rotax qualifying session which was dominated from the outset by Henry Riley. Jake Warner, Ben Kidd and Lloyd Bell filled the remaining spots on the first two rows. Riley converted pole in the Heat win by nine seconds ahead of Warner with former champion Matt Hunting in third. Kidd had gambled on slicks but it didn’t pay off leaving him a lap down in sixteenth. The Pre-Final saw Riley, Warner and Bell take the slick gamble and despite dropping back at the start they were soon the fastest on the circuit. Kidd had pulled out a massive early advantage but when his tyres went off he was early prey for Bell who went on to win by ten seconds. Kidd managed to fight off Riley and Warner to hold on to second. Just before the Final the heavens opened and having destroyed their tyres earlier in the day seven drivers were ruled out of the Final including Bell and Riley. At the start Kidd took the lead but mechanical failure left him a disappointed bystander on lap 3. This left Warner clear at the front and he duly picked up his maiden Senior Rotax victory. Hunting came through to second with Steven Knowles in third. Shaun Reeve claimed the top novice award in eighth.

The Marshals ‘Driver of the Day’ award was given to Jenson Newbury for his excellent second place in Honda Cadets in his first meeting at the circuit.

Round 2 of the championship takes place on Saturday 25^th February. All entries must be in 7 days prior to the meeting otherwise a late entry fee of £10 will be charged. Memberships for 2012 are also still available along with pit bay pre-booking. If you register for your membership you will automatically be entered in for the year and will not have to fill any more forms out for 2012!!

N.B The engines from Honda Cadet drivers #33 and #54 were taken away by the organisers after the Final for technical checks. Both engines were scrutineered back-to-back and were both found to be to the regulations. Further checks may be made at any point throughout the course of the season.

Ready Roars to Debut Win

Ready Roars to Debut Win

The 2012 Junior League Winter Series opener saw a bumper field of 15 drivers take to the track. With reigning champion Harry Holdbrook no longer in the series it looked like being a fight between Matt Baisley, Alex Ready and Charles McGregor. Cameron Rutledge also made his return to the series along with rookie drivers Jack Tritton and Ross McWalter.

Heat 1 saw a devastating display by Ready as he won by over five seconds. Baisley pulled of another one of his legendary back-to-front drives to come through to second ahead of Arnold Lincoln. Tom Moore was also showing the same form he had at the tail end of last year to finish fourth.

Heat 2 again was led from the beginning by McGregor but he soon had Ready on his tail. Baisley had made a poor getaway so once again would have to fight through the field. Ready took the lead at the half way stage and pulled out a big advantage to claim another heat win. Baisley caught McGregor on the final lap but couldn’t quite make his way through.

Aiden Durrant led away from pole position in Heat 3 while Ready and Baisley collided on the opening lap dropping back down through the order. Ollie Carberry chased down Durrant in the early stages but when Ready and Baisley caught up the three started battling allowing Durrant to scamper away. The second place battle raged on until the final corner when Baisley and Carberry made contact allowing Ready to sore around the outside to take the place. Baisley just crossed the line in third ahead of Carberry.

The Final saw Ready on pole position with Baisley alongside and the duo flew away from the field in the opening laps. Behind them Durrant and McGregor ferociously fought over third while Rutledge, Luke Collins and Lincoln were having a similar battle for fifth. On lap 3 Baisley stormed past Ready and pulled out a two second advantage but after a small mistake he lost the lead again. By lap 9 the backmarkers were coming into play and Baisley took full advantage pulling off a staggering move at turn 6. Ready wasn’t finished though and with two laps to go he made his move and put the hammer down to take his maiden Junior League victory. Baisley followed home in second with McGregor winning the fight for third ahead of Durrant and Andrew Curtis.

Round 2 of the Winter Series takes place on Thursday 23^rd February. If you wish to book in or would like more information please contact the circuit on 01502 717718.

Ten Up for Champion Fitzpatrick

Ten Up for Champion Fitzpatrick

The opening round of the 2012 Cadet League Winter Series saw reigning champion Sam Fitzpatrick return to attempt to break Aiden Durrants record of 9 career wins in the league. He would have his work cut out though with Jason Hutton on strong form.

Heat 1 proved this with Hutton taking a fairly dominant win ahead of Fitzpatrick, who had to battle through from the back of the grid, with Oliver Patrick a strong third.

Heat 2 saw Fitzpatrick back on top with a dominant win of his own ahead of a thrilling battle between Tom Bayley and Mitchell Fenn which was eventually won out by Bayley.

Bayley continued this fine form in Heat 3 taking a clear win ahead of Liam Ditcham, who was continuing to impress in only his third meeting at the circuit. Hutton fought his way through to third but could have featured higher had it not been for an early spin.

Heat 4 and once again it was Fitzpatrick who led the field home ahead of a titanic scrap for second which would finally go the way of Fenn ahead of Hutton and Bayley,

For the Final the front row was made up of Fitzpatrick and Bayley with Hutton and Fenn lining up on row two. Fitzpatrick made a customary flying start to head the chasing pack but soon would have Hutton snapping at his heals. The two fought for lead in the opening stages before a costly spin dropped Hutton down to fourth behind Bayley and Fenn. Behind those drivers Lydia Walmsley had quietly moved up to fifth and was embroiled in a battle with Oliver Patrick. Hutton now had the bit between his teeth and surged past Fenn and Bayley and off in pursuit of Fitzpatrick who was now five seconds down the road. Fitzpatrick kept his composure though and crossed the line first taking his tenth career win, breaking Durrants two year old record. Hutton finished second with Tom Bayley in third.

Fitzpatricks win record is all the more impressive as he has started just 17 races making him statistically the most successful Cadet League driver of all-time.

Round 2 takes places on Wednesday 29^th February. If you wish to book in or would like more information please contact the circuit on 01502 717718.

2011 Presentation evening 6th january 2012

Ellough Park Raceway would like to thank everyone who attended the end of season awards evening at  The Oasis Leisure and Sports Club in Norwich.

Every Championship run at the circuit was represented on the night with the trophies being presented by former Lotus Formula One star MARTIN DONNELLY and one of the top kart drivers in the World, CHRIS LOCK.

The Biggest winner from the evening was Cadet Driver Sam Fitzpatrick who collected the Runner-Up spot in the Cadet League Winter Series and EPKC Honda Cadet Championships along with the winners trophy for the Cadet League Summer Series.  He was also picked by the officials as the winner of the ‘Martyn Dobson Young Driver of the year’ Award for his outstanding achievements in only his first full year of racing.

The evening also saw the auction of a front wing signed by Mark Webber and David Couthard kindly donated by Ian Bedson and Melly Cooke to raise money for the Henry Surtees Foundation.  The wing made a staggering £500.00 thanks to the generous bid from Jason Thompson from UK Parachuting based at Ellough.  This bid along with a donation from Pat Palmer of £50.00 has made the grand total raised from Ellough Park £2050.00!!  Thanks to all those who have donated and participated in our charity events to raise this money for the Foundation.

As well as the championship awards there were other special trophies awarded on the night.  The Endeavour Award, a trophy reconising effort with achievement, was won by Senior Rotax Driver Ben Kidd following his steady rise throughout the year in his catagory.

The Marshal of the Year Award was won by Beau Mullett, the first marshal to win the award twice, in recognition of his hard work and commitment throughout the year.

Finally, the much anticipated Rear Of The Year Award saw Steve Algar (Open Team Endurance – Pulham Pigs), Glenn Bee (Junior Rotax Driver Dad) and Mel Cooke (Honda Cadet Driver Dad) stand up and shake their stuff after being voted for on the night.  After receiving the biggest cheer the award was given to Melly Cooke…..

Richard, Sian, Steve and the whole Ellough Park Team would like to thank everyone for making the Presentation evening one of the best yet and to wish everyone a safe and successful season.