ROWLAND DOMINATES TO REGAIN CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Oliver Rowland (Penistone) got his Super One karting title campaign back on track with two victories at Shenington circuit, near Banbury, on Sunday, 8th July. The 14-year-old won both Renault Formula JICA Finals after earlier winning both of his heats.

In Final 1, Rowland took an immediate lead from pole position ahead of Rikki Gordon (Co Antrim) who had passed Tom Patterson (Newchaple) in the opening laps. Gordon then made a small error to drop behind Patterson, Tom Joyner (Braintree) and Tom Grice (Hockley).

Gary Thompson (Co Dublin) , who led the series coming into the weekend, had to come from near the back of the grid to join the top six battle in the latter stages of the race. Meanwhile, Grice passed Patterson for second place but was well adrift of Rowland who set a string of impressive lap times.

Luke Wright (Blandford) had seemed set for a strong finish before contact with Alex Lynn (Dunmow) left him out of the race. Sam Jenkins (Bristol) also undid earlier good work dropping four places to finish 10th. Patterson endured a difficult end to the race being overtaken by both Thompson and James Thorp (Evesham).

Final 2 followed a similar pattern for Rowland who led away from pole position after one restart caused by a red flag. Grice was able to stay closer to the lead than in Final 1 and the front two soon opened a gap to third-placed Thompson.

Sam Jenkins and Jordan Lennox-Lamb (Bedford) both passed Rikki Gordon in the early stages, but Gordon fought back to reclaim fifth from Jenkins. At the midway point, Jenkins lost two more places to Max Goff (Brigstock) and Thorp.

Rowland’s lead proved unassailable as he took his sixth win from eight Finals, with Grice and Thompson competing the podium.

Rowland regains his lead and now heads Thompson by just three points with four rounds left.

The Junior MSA British Kart Championship continues at five venues around the UK, with the next round at Warden Law circuit near Sunderland, on 25th/26th August.

Renault Formula JICA provisional championship standings:

1st – Oliver Rowland, 341pts; 2nd – Gary Thompson, 338pts; 3rd – Tom Joyner, 329pts; 4th – Sam Jenkins, 325pts; 5th – Jordan Lennox-Lamb, 309pts; 6th – Shane Crosbie, 308pts.