ENDS KF3 SEASON ON A HIGH

Carl Stirling became the first Irish Super One champion in the final round of the Renault-sponsored Junior British karting championship on Sunday, 5th October.

The 15-year-old from Craigavon ended his second season of karting on mainland Britain on a high. A race win in the first final and a third place in the second left Stirling 25 points ahead of his main rival Mackenzie Taylor (Ashford, Middlesex).

Stirling said: “I was surprised to do so well in the first final after I made a mistake on a corner. I only just finished – my engine was cutting out and I just drifted until the line.”

Stirling started the second final on pole but dropped behind Patryk Szczerbinski (Manchester) and Ashley Sutton (Bishops Stortford, Herts) after five laps. Stirling said: “With five laps to go I knew third place was enough, so I just wanted to defend my position.

“The year started well when I won the ‘O’ plate, although I didn’t start to think about the championship until after the first round,” Stirling added. “It was a big change coming from Ireland, not just because the competition is so hard, but because I’ve been learning the tracks.”

Stirling, who has two brothers racing in Super One karting, added: “It hasn’t totally sunk in yet, but I think I’m the first person from Ireland to win a Super One championship and I’m really proud of that.”

While Taylor was the championship runner-up, John Norris (Co. Kildare) pipped Jake Dennis (Nuneaton, Warks) for third in the championship. Meanwhile Szczerbinski took his first KF3 win, after a very strong qualifying performance in the rain soaked heats.

KF3 provisional championship points: 1 Carl Stirling 484pts; 2. Mackenzie Taylor 459pts; 3. Alexander Albon 430pts; 4. John Norris 406pts; 5. Jake Dennis 404pts; 6. Lewis Hall 397pts.

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