Renault Formula ICA karting latest
Soaking track conditions and unpredictable rain showers made for an eventful final in the Renault Formula ICA kart championship at PFI circuit near Newark, Lincolnshire, on Sunday (21st May).
Championship leader Ollie Millroy (Claygate, Surrey) moved from 7th place on the grid to win the first Formula ICA final, then had his points doubled when the second final was cancelled because of deteriorating weather conditions.
Millroy said: “I had a great start and moved up to fourth place quite quickly. A few laps later I was catching Adam Batch when he disappeared.”
Although the damp track conditions had posed a bit of a challenge in the heat races, the wet weather came to Millroy’s aid in the final.
“The water pump belt snapped so the engine was running at 110 degrees. I had to keep driving through puddles to keep it cool. If hadn’t been raining it would have seized.”
Adam Batch (North Ferriby, Yorkshire) was probably most disappointed by the weekend’s early finish. He scored a pole position in the first ICA heat, with older brother David on the front row of ICA heat two. Adam led most of the Renault Formula ICA final until an error under braking in the tricky conditions sent him off the track. He finished the race in 20th place and with no chance to improve in a second final his championship hopes were dashed.
Tristram Oman (Stockton-on-Tees) had a strong weekend, winning two of the ICA heats to line up on pole position for the first final. He was passed by Batch at the start of the race and was then challenged by Millroy and Jonathan Walker in the race, eventually finishing third. His results elevated him to fourth in the championship standings at the half-way point of the season.
Walker (Dinkley, Lancashire) made a remarkable climb from 11th on the grid to finish second, holding onto second place in the championship, while Stefan Wilson (Sheffield) climbed from 12th to finish fourth. Further down the field, Scott Malvern (Ilford) climbed from 30th on the grid to finish 16th.
Lee Bell (High Wycombe) is currently third in the Renault Formula ICA championship, after a difficult race, which saw him drop from a 6th on the grid to 8th at the end of the race.
Renault Formula ICA Championship provisional points:
1st – Ollie Millroy 292pts; 2nd – Jonathan Walker 249pts; 3rd – Lee Bell 245pts;
4th Tristram Oman 241pts; 5th – Jason Edgar 234pts; 6th – Matt Truelove 225pts.
