Sunday September 18th saw the BPKC summer championship return to Buckmore Park after a month’s break, also featuring the final round of the Kent Championship, giving us fantastic racing in every class final.
Blake’s new record.
Nine Bambino drivers had two timed runs and a final throughout the day, the quickest of these and establishing a new circuit record of 54.18 in his second timed run, was Blake Ticehurst. He was majestically throwing his colourful little machine into hairpin 1 on every lap, almost as though he had been driving at the circuit for years. To put his speed into perspective, his new lap record would not be too far away from a good time in the adult Surtees Sodi karts. Trying to match his pace was the previously untouchable Damian Barruss-Haggett, his early turn in approach to hairpin 1 was perhaps costing a little bit of the 0.6 seconds he lost over a lap to the brilliant Blake. Three other drivers were in the 55 second bracket with Damian, they were Leo Robinson, Alexander Senner and Archie Clark. Edu Robinson was 6th behind these three and Joseph Katsantonis was 7th. For reasons unknown, Macauley Bishop and Lewis Stannard didn’t run in the final.
Brooks wraps up championship with classy win.
Alfie Brooks was on excellent form in his Roalf Racing run kart in the Honda Clubman class. After winning his heat and Prefinal he took a good victory in the main final, beating a squabbling pack behind him. Hot on his heels behind him over the last three laps was the KPi kart of Jack Matthews, the diminutive racer made up a cool eight places over the 12 lap race duration. Ambition driver Zach Walters had grabbed the lead off of Brooks for a period of four laps early on but slipped back to 5th at the finish. DNL driver Joseph Knight capped off a good competitive day, finishing right behind his old KPi teammate Matthews in 3rd. With the top five covered by less than a second at the finish, Archie Walker and Zach Walters were part of the group in 4th and 5th.Just a little further back were a trio consisting of Jamie Perilly , Matthew Hyde and top novice Declan Russell, 6th 7th and 8th. There was only one IAME kart competing this month and that was last week’s Lydd winner Jacob Baldry. Brooks capped the day off with fastest lap and the Kent Championship.
Junior Subarus excite.
In the Junior Subaru class GMS driver Troy Beswick knew that his superb Prefinal 2 showing was going to be hard to replicate in such a competitive environment that the Junior Subaru class breeds. Zac Spence initially led and looked very capable of winning until contact from Chalie Nash at hairpin 2 on the second lap dropped him and Nash back, as both drivers were briefly delayed, Beswick and James Black came through to lead. It didn’t take long though until the pace of Spence’s Ambition kart, had him back up to 2nd. He then shadowed Beswick from lap 4 until lap 9 when contact again at the second hairpin altered the race’s course. This time it had been Spence who tried to slip inside Beswick but ultimately failed when Beswick took his usual line into the corner. Poor Spence was thrown into the air, losing valuable seconds as his kart crashed to the ground. Beswick once again had a little cushion over the rest; however he knew that he wouldn’t be able to break clear. Over the last few laps, Black pulled the pack back up to Beswick’s bumper, but by the finish Nash had pipped Black for second, Ross Connelly and Riley Stephenson finished 4th and 5th, both having very combative days moving up from lowly grid slots, proving that you can overtake in this class. It was Connelly who took the race’s fastest lap just outside of the Subaru lap record during his charge and even ended up crossing the finish line with the front of his kart in the air, after riding up over Black’s right rear corner. Tom Emson took a fine 6th place and top novice from the dejected Spence in 7th.
Rotherham survives trip to win in Mini Max.
In the Mini max class James Wharrier – Project One, took the win in both the Heat and Prefinal and led from the start in the main final. However by lap 6 it wasn’t plain sailing for him as he was being pressurised by the LICA driver Thomas Rotherham (who had a painful pre-race trip in the scrutineering and subsequent visit to the medical centre bay !) and Project One teammate Declan Lee, both of these two managing to slip by on lap 7. Rotherham then drove perfectly to fend the two teammates off over the rest of the race distance to take his first win at Buckmore Park. Wharrier and Lee swapped places on the last lap to finish in that order behind Rotherham. In 4th place was novice Peter Knight, 5th was Tom Lawson with Josh Wellard just half a second behind in 6th, showing a good improvement on his recent step up from the Clubman class. Wharrier took the final’s fastest lap and the Kent Championship.
Bloch stays cool in hectic Cadet final.
The Honda Cadet final had the makings of classic with anyone of eight drivers in with a chance of winning. Liam McNeilly led away fellow front starter Alex Ley – DKR for the 12 lap final and held the position comfortably up until lap 4, behind Liam the pack had been sorting themselves out. Away from the rigors of his Superone duties was Ambition driver Sebastian Bloch, he was enjoying racing back at Buckmore Park with his teammate Owen Tolley, by lap 5 Bloch had taken the lead, with Tolley then replacing him on the following lap. DNL star driver – Callum Gunning joined in with fun and took over the lead on lap 7 but he too could only hold on for one lap. Over the last five laps the close pack at the front started to fall apart, Tolley unfortunately had contact with Gunning and McNeilly costing the latter dearly dropping him back, up front Bloch had Theo Micouris hounding him all the way to the flag, the Virtus driver pulling alongside the blue Ambition kart on the run out of the last corner, but not having enough to pass the delighted Bloch at the finish. Tolley finished 3rd but was handed a 10 second penalty post race for the clash with McNeilly, so Gunning inherited the position. Alexander Ley ran with the pack all race and took 4th, a great result after a break away from racing. McNeilly finished a disappointed 5th from Frankie Elwell in 6th. Top novice was Fraser Bunton in 11th. Micouris took the race’s fastest lap on his way to 2nd place. A spectating Oliver Marsh took the Kent Championship title.
Appleby takes the win, Bennett secures the title.
Charlie Bennett – Project One, looked in control of the Junior Max final over the first 6 laps opening up a comfortable gap, behind him KPi driver Oliver Appleby had a steady start but picked up the pace as the race settled. He closed in on Bennett and by lap 7 made a move down the inside into turn 1. The race was then on to the flag, Appleby could not get away from the hungry Project One driver and on the exit of hairpin 2 on the last lap the two were virtually side by side, the KPi driver stuck it out going into the fast esses and held on over the remainder of the lap to take the flag, a mere 0.090 seconds covering the two over the line. Conrad Collinson saw the end to his recent disappointments to take a fine 3rd place, the remaining 5 drivers , Harry Gent, William Newham, Sean Berry, Henry Ayres and Luke Freestone, crossed the line as one in 4th – 8th places. Appleby took the fastest lap on lap 9 and Charlie Bennett took the Kent Championship.
Foster returns and dominates in JX30.
Ronnie Foster came to Buckmore Park after a two month layoff from karting; he then dominated the Junior X30 final winning comfortably by 2.4 seconds over his Evolution teammate Freddy Simpson-Stacey, who had started from the back and rocketed through. Th Alfie Glenie also running with Evolution, finished third and wrapped up the Kent Championship on his way. Bobby Grove recovered from a shocking day after suffering two engine seizures and no finishes, with a great deal of effort and help in the paddock, he managed to take 4th place in the final and second overall in the Kent Championship. Class debutant Alfie Prince had a solid and impressive drive to 5th in his Ambition run kart, Ben Cowley took 6th. A desperately unlucky Finley Cross had looked very fast and on for a great result before his bumper worked loose, leaving him with a visit to the pits during the race. The fastest lap went to Freddy Simpson-Stacey during his fight up through the field.
Seniors race to the Max.
Regular Senior Max Buckmore Park winner Elliot Rice didn’t have things his own way as four drivers fought tooth and nail for the win . Rice, Lewis Brown, Sam Baker and Kit Brough put on one of the best Senior races of the year over the 12 lap final. Rice led away and up until mid-race when Sam Baker hit the front, he couldn’t hold on for long though and soon slipped behind both Rice and Brown, they ran the positions to the flag, in very close formation, with just 0.62 seconds covering the top 3, Brough couldn’t mount an attack and backed off slightly over the line in 4th. Tim Gibson took 5th from the solo X30 class runner – Frankie Flunt in 6th. Ryan Haines wrapped up 2nd in the Kent Championship behind an absent Jonathan Wilkes with an 8th place finish behind Dan O’Brien. Sam Baker proved his speed by taking the fastest lap.