Litchfield Clinches Fourth Title

Mark Litchfield (Ripley, Derbyshire) has secured his place among the most successful UK kart racers ever after provisionally winning his fourth British Karting Championship title at Whilton Mill on 31st August.

A race win and a third place finish in the two finals has given Litchfield, champion of the class when it was called Formula A in 2004, 2005 and 2006, an unassailable lead in the Renault-sponsored karting championship with two more races to go. Each driver must drop their two worst scores of the season, meaning second-placed Lee Bell cannot overhaul Litchfield’s lead.

Litchfield started the first championship race in fourth place, behind title rivals Chris Rogers (Waltham Cross, Herts), Denis Gorman (Guildford) and pole sitter Lee Bell (High Wycombe). Litchfield and Rogers both passed Bell and Gorman in the opening lap, then traded the lead over the next couple of circuits.

Rogers held the lead for the rest of the race, and Litchfield’s attempt to pass on the final lap allowed Lee Bell to nip into second place at the chequered flag. Richard Bradley (Blackheath), Gorman and Nicholas Yelloly (Solihull) completed the top six.

In the second final Litchfield took an early lead, which he held to the end. Rogers was eliminated from the race and had his title hopes extinguished with an engine failure six laps from the flag. Lee Bell finished second again, but this was not enough to stop Litchfield gaining enough points to be declared provisional champion.

Richard Bradley, Yelloly and Raymie Eastwood (Belfast), who recovered from a 13th place finish in the first final, completed the top six in final two.

KF1 provisional championship points: 1 Mark Litchfield 481pts; 2 Lee Bell 448pts; 3 Chris Rogers 432pts; 4 Jonathan Walker 427pts; 5 Sam Tordoff 416pts; 6 Jordan Lennox-Lamb 410pts.

Remaining rounds

4th/5th October – Shenington, nr Banbury, Oxon

For all the latest KF1, KF2 and KF3 karting news visit the official Renault Sport UK website www.renaultsport.co.uk

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