• Local champion Rory claims first ever FKS Cadet Honda Challenges last weekend
• Four stroke racers prove their mettle with thrilling races.
Never before in its 17-year history has the Formula One Management backed Formula Kart StarsChampionship resounded to the distinctive roar of the Honda GX 160 engine but after the first two Challengeevents of their debut season in FKS the 14 Cadet Honda drivers who made history at Kimbolton looked to allintents and purposes like series veterans.
Revelling with the incredible levels of data given off by the enhanced Apex Timing/TAG Heuer timing andscoring system that beamed Formula One style sector times and in depth data charts live to the paddockand over the internet the Cadet Honda field, all FKS rookies, put on a stirring show.
Although Rory Hudson was the driver standing on top of the podium on both days, his path to glory was farfrom simple on a weekend of mixed weather conditions and where any one of half a dozen drivers couldhave laid claim to victory.
With free tyre bags from Dunlop and contingency awards from class patron and former Cadet Honda racerAlex Albon, the signs all point to a highly successful 2012.
Formula Kart Stars Cadet Honda ChallengesAt the end of the opening lap of Saturday’s final it would have taken a brave soul to place a wager onHudson lifting the first ever FKS Cadet Honda trophy for although the defending Hunts Kart Club Championhad led timed qualifying and won the opening heat, a clash with reigning Welsh Champion Max Wieteska(Global Karting) at the first corner left Hudson in last position.
But as a five kart scrap enthralled the crowd at the head of the field Hudson began picking off drivers one byone and slowly honed in on the leaders. With momentum on his side he went from sixth to first in less thantwo laps and then kept Elliott Harvey (Next Gen Motorsport) at bay by eight tenths of a second over the finaltour to take the win.
Tokyo born driver Yukinori Ishii (Mechtech Motorsport) completed the podium by a scant two hundredths ofa second over Danny Harrison (Chris Rogers Motorsport) after earlier claiming victory in a damp secondheat with some clinical overtaking.
Save for the one heat that Ishii won, Saturday remained dry throughout but the same could not be said forthe second Challenge on Easter Sunday. Already marking himself out as something of a rain master Ishiitook pole position in timed qualifying but couldn’t add to his victory tally as Mark Kimber (AmbitionMotorsport) and Harrison Huggan (Privateer) opened their FKS victory accounts in the heats.
Come the final however and Hudson was once again the driver to beat, controlling the pace at the front formuch of the race after Ewan Bennett’s (Privateer) brave challenge faded and becoming the only driver inany of the five FKS classes race to secure the weekend double with an assured six second victory overHarvey with Huggan completing the podium
Results
FKS Cadet Honda Challenge 11. Rory Hudson2. Elliott Harvey3. Yukinori Ishii4. Danny Harrison5. Keaton Samra
FKS Cadet Honda Challenge 21. Rory Hudson2. Elliott Harvey3. Harrison Huggan4. Keaton Samra5. Max Wieteska
