Round 6 of the MSA Super 1 Championship
could see the KF3 British Junior Championship rapped up if Alex
Albon took a double win. Also engine reliability has been key this
year in the KF karting classes, and Larkhall, for whatever reason
didn't see as many seizures as previous rounds. Maybe a case of
improved engineering, as well as driver experience has seen this
improvement which is vital for KF to be a sustainable class for
the top flight in 2010. Also to note was the domination of the TM
KF engines at Larkhall. Local tuner GFR appears to have replicated
the domination he and TM engines had in the Formula A/ICA era!
KF1 - MSA British Karting Championship
Final 1
Championship leader Ben Cooper came into the weekend very ill.
It looked like he wasn't going to drive all weekend but after just
10 or so laps in Sunday morning practice he decided he would line
up on the grid for Final 1. At this stage in the season any loss
of points could prove very damaging to a driver's championship prospects.
At the front it was Robert Foster-Jones who was the man in control.
Since he hit the track on Friday morning he has been the yard stick
everyone was trying to catch. Reigning champion Mark Litchfield,
now on an Alonso Kart, also looked very good but lacked a tenth
on Foster-Jones all weekend. At the start of the first final Foster-Jones
took the lead straight away.
Reigning champion Mark Litchfield has had a tough year,
but is still in with a shout for the title
Litchfield managed to tag him for the early laps but Foster-Jones
was too quick and consistent and slowly built a gap. Meanwhile Ben
Cooper was battling further back with Jonathan Walker. A tangle
between the two saw Cooper retire and that was the end of the weekend
for him, as he didn't line up for Final 2. Foster-Jones continued
to increase his lead at the front, and the battle was for second.
Luke Wright was in third and catching Litchfield, however at the
first hairpin he tapped Litchfield's rear end. This seemed to do
Wright more harm than good as it cost him several tenths he wouldn't
be able to pull back within the remaining laps. Foster-Jones took
the win, from Litchfield, and Wright in third.
1. Robert Foster-Jones - Alonso/TM
2. Mark Litchfield - Alonso/TM
2. Luke Wright - TonyKart/TM
Final 2
In Final 2 Foster-Jones got the perfect start and Wright slotted
into second, Bradley third, Litchfield fourth. A great start from
Will Dendy saw him move into fifth. Foster-Jones instantly put the
hammer down and only a mechanical failure was going to stop him
winning the race.
Will Dendy had an awesome start in the second final
It was up to Litchfield to make his way through and he managed
to climb to second. From there on in the race was pretty static
with the Foster-Jones in first, Litchfield second, and Wright in
third. The championship now goes down to the line at Fulbeck with
the main contenders Foster-Jones, Cooper, and Litchfield all dicing
for top honours.
Robert Foster-Jones had the perfect weekend
1. Robert Foster-Jones - Alonso/TM
2. Mark Litchfield - Alonso/TM
2. Luke Wright - TonyKart/TM
KF2
Final 1
Jordan Chamberlain must have been worried about his title chances
while sliding upside down breaking his collarbone at Nutts Corner.
But with some laser surgery he was back to his best at Larkhall
with a double win! At the start of the frst final it was Shaun Carter
who took the early lead from Ollie Morris-Jones. Morris-Jones and
Chamberlain were close and this allowed Carter to build a lead and
saw Jake Ball close in on the pair. Chamberlain didn't wait long
before making his move on Morris-Jones and got into second.
The officials made sure the drivers knew the starting
procedure!
He then closed on Carter and at the first hairpin he moved into
first and instantly pulled around half a second. Like with most
KF2 races this year the front 3-4 appear to be so close that there
really isn't much between them once it settles down. At the finish
Chamberlain won from Carter, and Jake Ball who made it past Morris-Jones
to take third.
1. Jordan Chamberlain - TonyKart/TM
2. Shaun Carter - TonyKart/TM
3. Jake Ball - TonyKart/TM
Final 2
The second final was a slightly less eventful fair as Chamberlain
led most of the race from Carter and Jake Ball. The double win now
sees Chamberlain in prime position to take the championship at Larkhall.
Silky smooth driving again from Jordan Chamberlain
1. Jordan Chamberlain - TonyKart/TM
2. Shaun Carter - TonyKart/TM
3. Jake Ball - TonyKart/TM
KF3 - MSA British Junior Karting Championship
Final 1
Alex Albon is currently in irresistible form at the moment. Domination
of the qualifying and heats saw Albon line up pole for the first
final. In the early stages of the race Albon built a gap from Xavier
Warburton and Callum Bowyer. Bowyer all weekend seemed to be the
man to challenge Albon, if anyone could, and he moved into second
but a tussle between him and Warburton saw them lose the crucial
tenths which could have seen the race at the front more close.
Alex Albon has been nigh on unbeatable in 2009
A close battle between Warburton, Bowyer, and Macaulay Walsh entertained
the spectators but it was Jordan King defending like his life depended
on it which caused havoc further back. A train of 10 karts and warning
flags galore reminded us of Sam Blake's heroic defending at Shenington
but at the front Albon was not to be defeated. He won from Bowyer,
and then Walsh.
1. Alex Albon - TonyKart/TM
2. Callum Bowyer - Alonso/Vortex
3. Macaulay Walsh - Birel
Final 2
One more win for Albon would see the British Junior Karting Championship
rapped up. The most prestigious junior karting crown in the country
was there for the taking and Albon made no mistake in the second
final. A brief challenge from Walsh was all Albon had to contend
with, and nothing was going to stop him taking the race and the
title.
Callum Bowyer battled hard with Sam Blake in Final 2
A late showing from Cadet Champion Roy Johnson saw him finish
second, and it certainly now looks like he could be a title contender
for 2010. Macaulay Walsh finished third.
1. Alex Albon - TonyKart/TM - Provisional MSA British Junior
Karting Champion 2009
2. Roy Johnson - TonyKart/TM
3. Macaulay Walsh - Birel
Cadets
Final 1
Sam Webster made the early running in the Cadet race in a train
of four karts which included Dean Macdonald, Alex Gill, and Matthew
Graham. It was clear that Gill wanted to bump draft Webster away
from Macdonald and Graham so they could duke it out for the win.
It didn't quite work out as the quartet stayed together. With about
five minutes to go Matthew Graham seemed to be losing touch and
fell back. But in the closing stages Gill went for the win and took
the lead. He wouldn't relinquish it and he won from Webster and
then Graham who recovered to third.
Alex Gill produced some smart driving to take two wins
1. Alex Gill - Wright/Comer
2. Sam Webster - Zip/Comer
3. Matthew Graham - Zip/Comer
Final 2
Alex Gill led the early stages of the Cadet's second final. As
with every Cadet race strategy is key and once a group of two or
three start working together at the front they become nigh on impossible
to catch. In this case Gill, Dean Macdonald, and Sam Webster were
the leading trio. Webster decided that he wanted a go at the front
and went past Gill allowing Macdonald to slot into second. In the
closing stages Macdonald took first but with a couple of laps left
the door open for Gill to take the lead. Gill wouldn't let the lead
slip as he took the win from Webster who managed to get past Macdonald.
Sam Webster Cadets
1. Alex Gill - Wright/Comer
2. Sam Webster - Zip/Comer
3. Dean Macdonald- Zip/Comer
Karting1 Super 1 Round 6 Podcast
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Albon British 2009 Junior Karting Champion! Plus Winners from KF1
and KF2
Super 1 Round 6 Galleries
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