KZ2 2022

The tenth event of the Motorsport UK Wera Tools British Kart Championships headed for Kimbolton kart circuit last weekend  [9-11 September] as the Cambridgeshire track witnessed an exciting schedule of top-class racing and the first champion crowned of 2022. The Rotax and Honda Classes were embarking on their penultimate round of the series but it was the KZ2 class which grabbed the limelight on Sunday evening, as Charlie Turner did all he needed to do to become the first British Kart Champion of 2022 after taking second place in the Final. The Mini Max, Junior Rotax and Senior Rotax classes, plus the ultra-competitive Honda Cadet contenders were also in action, all fighting it out for maximum points haul as the championship heads for the finale at Whilton Mill in October.

Classes

Mini Max With just the double points scoring final round at Whilton Mill left on the Mini Max calendar, a top score at Kimbolton would be imperative to the title chase and it would be Noah Wolfe [Synergy Racing Developments] who got the memo at the weekend. Wins in the Heats, second in the Pre-Final and victory in the Final cemented his lead in the series with 15 points to the good over Scott Marsh [DHR]. Like his Clay Pigeon outing, Marsh netted the Pre-Final win but a front fairing penalty in the Final saw him drop to eighth. Kato Motorsport’s Finn Leslie was on form to take his best result of 2022, the rookie taking second in the Final ahead of Harrison Whitticombe [Argenti Motorsport], whose performance also netted him the Wera Tools Driver of the Day nomination from the panel and subsequently won the poll. Junior Rotax Brandon Carr [KR-Sport] has been almost unstoppable over the latter half of the season and once again he was in tip-top form, winning the Heats, Pre-Final and Final in a blistering display. Carr now has 66 points in hand over his nearest rival heading into the final meeting and a solid result will seal him the title at Whilton. Harry Linden [DHR] has had a mixed season with podiums blighted by lowly scores, but he put that right at Kimbolton, taking second in the Heats and Final to boost the confidence heading to the finale. Carr’s closest challenger is Vinnie Phillips [Strawberry Racing] but he could only manage third in the Final and coupled with a difficult Heat and Pre-Final result means he must be on top form if he is to challenge for the title. Senior Rotax After taking the lead of the championship at Clay Pigeon, Callum Bradshaw [Strawberry Racing] hasn’t looked back since. And clearly, Kimbolton suited the racer, taking a clean sweep of Heats, PreFinal and Final win to extend his lead over Kai Hunter [DHR] who was once again outside of the podium places over the weekend. Archie Walker [KR Sport] took his best Final result of 2022 with second spot after a very strong weekend behind the wheel, whilst Sean Butcher [KR Sport] rounded out the podium with third. The championship race is likely to be a two-horse race between Bradshaw and Hunter at Whilton Mill but with a packed and talented grid to contend with, the dropped scores and bonus point system will come into play during the finale. Honda Cadet After being forced to miss the previous round at Clay Pigeon, Cole Denholm came out of the blocks fighting at Kimbolton, storming to a Heats, Pre-Final and Final victory for the Synergy Racing Developments squad. The ultra-impressive drive of three maximum points during a weekend is the third of his season highlighting his eighth place in the standings is not representative of his form in 2022. Synergy would occupy the podium places once again in the Final with Kai Clarke and Charlie Woolfitt taking second and third respectively for the squad. As for the top two names in the championship fight, well it was a less profitable weekend. Series leader Jarrett Clarke [[Synergy Racing Developments] could only grab second in the Pre-Final and outside of the podium in the Heats and Final, whilst Kenzo Craigie [Zip Factory Team] took third in the Heats and Pre-Final but fifth in the Final. KZ2 The BKC crowned its first champion of 2022 as Charlie Turner [Rush Performance] crossed the line in second place in the final to take the KZ2 title. Consistency has been key to Turner's season and whilst he only took the crown by a slender two points from teammate James Glenister, following him across the line was enough to seal the coveted honour. Glenister could do no more, taking maximum points in the Heats and winning the Final was all that could be asked of him, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion. It was a Rush Performance podium lock-out in the Final and the Championship standings as Tom Adams grabbed third over the line and in the series points to boot. Adams would tie for the position with Moore Racing’s Morgan Porter and Bradley Barrett [Sodi Vitesse] on 434 points apiece, the countback awarding the Rush driver the position. Only 52 points separated the top ten contenders in the championship, a sign of just how competitive the KZ2 championship is on the British Kart Championship tour. The IAME, TKM and Bambino racers are in action next at PFi in Lincolnshire on 23-25 September for Event 11 on the Wera Tools British Kart Championship tour.