Sunday 17^th May saw round 2 of the Buckmore Park Kart Club’s summer championships and with visiting teams and drivers from all over the UK, the busy program was set to enthral.

The circuit which lies just off of the M2 at junction 3 near Chatham, hosts the Super One British championships next month on the 13-14^th June and this was an ideal chance for the visitors to earn some much needed track time to hone their machines.

The five finals which covered various age groups started with Rotax Mini Max karts for those between 11-15 years old. The visiting drivers fared very well with Jordan Collard (the son of British Touring Car ace Rob ) , inheriting the victory after the original top two were removed from the results.

Joe Turney of Woburn Sands finished second and completing the podium was Connor McCarthy of Keston. The top Kent driver was Jenson Butterfield from Halling, who upheld local honour with a fine 4^th place.

Final 2 was for the young Honda Clubman drivers (8-13 years old) and after a brief spell in the lead for Callum Gunning (Herne Bay), it was eventually won by Chislehurst’s Anthony Amato, Ronnie Mansfield (Tonbridge) pushed Amato hard almost drawing level at the chequered flag to finish second. Novice driver Oliver Greenall (Dunmow) once again drove a great race by moving up to third on the last lap. Chatham’s Joshua Wellard took 5^th behind Southampton’s Alex Moody.

In the gorgeous sunshine the third final for the Rotax Junior Max proved to be a comfortable win for visiting competitor Tom Gamble (Nottingham), his dominant pace was just too much for the rest of the big field who were some four seconds behind, with Adam Smalley (Pouton Le Fylde) taking the runner up position from Jordan Brown-Nutley (Benfleet). Best Kent driver was Myles Apps (Dartford) who finished in 6^th place.

The Senior Rotax final for drivers aged 15 and over proved a frantic affair with lots of place swapping throughout its 12 lap duration, Matthew Hirst (Doncaster) was in the lead when the flag fell to take a great win from Jac Constable (Grantham) and Scott Mackrell (Durham). The best driver from the south east was Taylor Harding who finished in the 7^th spot. Usual top local ace Elliot Rice struggled all day and ended up with a disappointing DNF (Did Not Finish).

The last final was for the Honda Cadet class (8-13), it was a competitive affair between two young stars, Harrison Blake (Sevenoaks) and Dylan Cooper (Uckfield), as they pulled clear of the jostling pack behind and each took a turn of leading, when it mattered the most Blake’s guile proved too much for Cooper, although the winning margin of the Kent driver was a mere 0.080 second at the finish line. Alfie Glennie (Sissinghurst) fought off the pack to take the final podium spot, proving this to be a good race for the Kent drivers.

The summer championships continue at the friendly Kent circuit on Sunday 21^st June, the weekend after the Super One Championship visit, public are welcome to attend with entry and parking free to all.