2016

My first championship attack.

2016 was my final year as a junior in karting and with it, my best chance to become British Champion. The grid for the X30 Junior championship was rammed full of quality but I stated my claim early on by winning the main final in the first round of the season at Rissington. As the season went on, I continued to develop as a driver and the wins kept on coming. The championship looked all but wrapped up entering the penultimate round when controversy stepped in. My main championship contender had got an earlier exclusion overturned and put me on the back foot entering the last round knowing that he had reclaimed the championship lead through a technicality. Entering the last round, at P.F International, I needed a win and a 2nd place from the final two races of the season around a track that I didn't get along with. I made a good go at it, gave it my all and grabbed pole position in qualifying, and then went on to win the first race and put myself on pole position for the final race. I made a great start, too good. In karting, it is really important to have someone to bump draft with. If not, you can lose up to half-a-second in lap time and be caught by the pack behind. This is exactly what happened to me in the final race. 2 seconds ahead out front, living the life. But I had no one to work with and the karts behind were all pushing each other forward. I was caught, passed, and fell down to 4th but I got my head back down, regained one place going onto the last lap. I had to keep pushing and go for P2 and saw a chance entering the last sector. I made my move, had 2nd, but made a small mistake and ran slightly wide losing two places falling back to 4th and finishing the season as British Vice-Champion. It was a blow, and it hurt to lose the championship on the last lap of the season, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'll come back fighting harder than ever in years to come!

STATS

Races 14
Pole positions: 4
Podium finishes: 8
Wins: 4
Fastest laps: 9
Super One British Karting Championships Junior X30 Vice-Champion