at the Karting Show
The new Karting Show at Autosport International hosted an array of launches and a plethora of stars, from Big Chris from Roary the Racing Car® to Formula One stars Jenson Button and Mark Webber, at the NEC, Birmingham, hailing the official start to the karting season.
The Karting Stage formed an integral part of the new Karting Show, attracting an impressive line up of drivers allowing the next generation of karters to rub shoulders with motorsport legends. Not only did Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber make a surprise visit, but Honda Racing F1 team’s Jenson Button chatted freely with host Alan Hyde on Saturday.
As well as talking about the year past and season ahead, Button shared his karting experiences with the audience and imparted his expert advice for aspiring champions, while Mark Webber’s top karting tip was to make sure every young driver thanked their parents after each race meeting. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Gary Paffett, American Le Mans Champion Allan McNish, ITVF1’s Mark Blundell, BTCC title holder Fabrizio Giovanardi, and sports car racers David Brabham and Johnny Mowlem also headlined and helped to encourage more people, young and old, into karting.
BRDC Stars of Tomorrow sponsor Martin Plowman exclusively revealed his new signing with RC Motorsport powered by Volkswagen for the Euro F3 Series. Other visiting karting graduates included Formula Renault racers Scott Jenkins and Adam Christodoulou, British GT Champion Bradley Ellis, plus a healthy scattering of karting champions including British Formula A and Kart Masters Champion Chris Rogers, and European KF3 victor and official Birel Motorsport driver Jack Harvey, to name a few.
The Karting for the Disabled launch headlined the Karting Show with BRDC Stars of Tomorrow unveiling its partnership with Karting Endeavour, a group of drivers who do not wish their disability to interfere with their love of motorsport, and the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA). BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Director Carolynn Hoy, Kumar from Karting Endeavour, MIA Chief Executive Chris Aylett, and Karting for the Disabled patron Martin Plowman, introduced the unique tri-partnership that will utilise the championship Race Control Centre to transport modified hand controlled karts to race meetings.
Chris Aylett, MIA Chief Executive, commented: “There is a genuine corporate interest in the exclusivity of this programme and we have been extremely encouraged by the warm and welcoming industry response. The launch has also encouraged direct approaches from many parties wishing to get involved, all of who have been inspired by the character and passion of those whom this programme will benefit. People like Alex Zanardi, and Michael AE Mackenzie who visited the launch, embrace a ‘just do it’ attitude and refuse to accept the potential problems in the way of their choices.”
The Motorsport Foundation programme run by the MIA will help fund the £50,000 initiative. Anyone interested in supporting Karting for the Disabled should contact Clare Stone at the MIA on 02476 692 600.
Racing 4 Charity’s BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded Kart Challenge on Friday combined with the Racing 4 Charity auctions, held throughout Saturday and Sunday on the F1 Racing display, raised over £47,000. Thanks to the efforts of a plethora of stars from across the motorsport spectrum, a host of charities are set to benefit, including: Bliss (The Premature Baby Charity), Richard Burns Foundation, Whizzkids, NARA (The Breathing Charity), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Christies Hospital Cancer Ward (Manchester), Breakthrough Breast Cancer, The British Heart Foundation, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, WOMAC and The Butterfly Appeal for About Face, Cerebra and Karting for the Disabled.
The CR Scuderia Renault team of Nick White, Adam Christodoulou, Steve Pentus, Sam Jenkins and Scott Jenkins took the spoils in a nail biting finish. The DTM All Stars team of Nigel Green, Gary Catt and Jamie Green came second with Calamity Clios third.
Some lucky members of the public had the chance to race alongside the fantastic array of stars, with all public places sold out in advance. But it was Adrian Ricardo-Batty, from Newbury, who won the public driver fastest lap shoot out. Delighted to win a Thruxton Motorsport Lamborghini Experience for his efforts, Adrian commented: “I’ve had a fantastic time and it was great to have the opportunity to pay and race for Whizzkids alongside such a fantastic group of celebrity racers.”
The second 24-Hour Kart Race at Autosport International delivered outstanding racing that went right down to the chequered flag. Inaugural Autosport International 24-Hour victors, triple Le Mans 24-hour champions and double British champions, team Equipe Vitesse, returned to defend their title against 11 highly-competitive teams, including team Mat Cleaning from Spain.
With the teams closely matched, as the race entered the final 30 minutes team Magnificent Seven led from Equipe Vitesse with both teams on the same lap. The pace did not relent but despite Equipe Vitesse’s efforts, Magnificent Seven crossed the line a marginal two-tenths of a second ahead after a staggering 3877 laps, crowning Chris Rogers, Ashley Sutton, Jack Harvey, Luke Candle, Charlie Burridge, James Dixon and Jason Parrott as the 2008 champions. Mat Cleaning finished third on 3863 laps.
Britain’s karting elite attended the Karting Show on Saturday. BRDC Stars of Tomorrow competitors dominated the Karting Stage proceedings for the presentation of the 2007 awards, with some special guests in attendance. Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber made an unexpected appearance while younger visitors were delighted to meet Big Chris from Roary the Racing Car® who presented the MSA British Cadet awards.
Super One, the UK’s largest and longest-running national kart championships, boasted its biggest Autosport International stand to date, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. All 2007 championship drivers benefited from two free tickets and a strong contingent visited the show on Saturday.
