Junior Rotax kart racing sensation Jessica Hawkins produced one of the best performances of her young career at PF International Circuit on Sunday, 7th August, by finishing runner-up in the 2011 MSA Kartmasters British Kart Grand Prix.Despite having to compete on a shoestring budget due to a lack of funding, the 16-year-old from Farnham in Hampshire defeated some of the globe's most heavily funded and talented drivers including Japan's Ukyo Sasahara - the 2009 World Champion and current European Champion.Marking her first outing at the Lincolnshire track since last year's Kartmasters, Jessica immediately impressed with the ninth quickest time in her qualification group and then finished an excellent fourth in the first Heat and eighth in Heat two.From there the Evolution Racing driver delivered an outstanding performance in the Pre-Final to finish in third position, behind top British racer Jack Barlow and Sasahara, before going one better in the all-important Final to take the runner-up placing behind pole-position starter Barlow."I'm really happy to have finished second in such an important even", said Jessica, "We're always struggling for the funding to race so to beat so many well-backed drivers is fantastic. Evolution did a great job with my kart, we got everything working well. I really think I'm driving better than ever and to do this at such a top level, and such a prestigious event, is very important for my career."Although suffering a lack of sponsorship and funding from the outset of her motorsport career, the teenage star has achieved some tremendous success.

She really came to prominence in 2007 by winning the Buckmore Park Club Honda Cadet title and by finishing as Vice-Champion in the Super 1 Dunlop Honda Cadet Championship. Aside from this weekend's fantastic result in the Kartmasters GP, the most prestigious success on her racing CV is the ABkC 'O' Plate Honda Cadet title victory which came in 2008.Jessica is now preparing to travel to Genk in Belgium for the next round of the Formula Kart Stars MSA Junior Rotax Championship this coming weekend, 13th/14th August. She is currently eighth in the standings with one podium to her credit from the visit to Three Sisters Circuit in Lancashire earlier in the season.While in Genk, the Evolution Racing driver will also contest a round of the BNL Karting Series on 20th/21st August before returning to the UK for the remainder of the Formula Kart Stars campaign.