Easykart drivers look for success on a Plate this weekend

Easykart UK E Plate Preview

The inaugural Easykart Open Championship - or ‘E Plate’ as it has been christened - takes place at the superb Clay Pigeon Raceway this Sunday (15 November).

This new addition to the domestic Easykart series is a direct response to a campaign calling for a classic, winner-takes-all format race.

Series promoter John Vigor says, “We have quite a lively discussion board on www.easykart.co.uk and we had a great many notices from our competitors on there, asking for such an event. As the season progressed, more and more drivers wanted an extra race in the calendar and we’ve responded to those calls.”

Easykart importer, Andy Cox of ACR adds, “We’ve had an encouraging entry, especially when you consider the E Plate is taking place so late in the racing year and no-one knows what to expect really. It’s a quality field in each of the classes (Cadet, Junior and the two Senior classes – Heavy and Light) and Clay always produces exciting racing.”

After strong showings at last month’s Easykart World Finals in Italy and a hugely successful domestic season, sales of Easykarts continue to be strong. Andy comments, “In the past few weeks we’ve sold over thirty karts. This is testimony to the fact that we have an excellent product and increasingly popular championship. Easykart offers exceptional value-for-money and great racing. On top of that, the standard of driving is excellent – whether you’re an experienced driver at national level, or a relative beginner – so there’s almost no crashing and bashing and the camaraderie in the paddock is exceptional. There’s nothing else like it.”

In Cadets, regular front-runners Ronan Mackenzie and Will Stowell are favourites to make the running, although Jordan Sanders shouldn’t be ruled out of giving them a run for their money.

An impressive Junior entry will certainly produce some fabulous action on the historic Dorset circuit. This summer’s winner and runner-up in the championship, Patrick Lay and Brad Fairhurst will resume their season-long battle, whilst a string of drivers, including Christopher Waldock, Thomas Grainger, Tiernay Oliver, Jack Mitchell and more, will be determined to knock the former pair off their perch.

A mouthwatering prospect awaits spectators of the Senior classes.

Former World Finals winner and UK champion, Barnaby Pittingale will be hard pressed in Heavy by William Smith, Tim Hill and Mark Lawrence, to name but a few. Hill ended the championship as one of, if not the most-improved driver and is due a big win. Pittingale is always fast around Clay, as is Smith – so expect a battle royal between them. Edinburgh restaurateur, Lawrence will be looking to cook up a result that equals his 2008 Winter Series victory.

With champion Terry Langley absent, the quality of the Light category is in no way diminished. The newly-crowned Heavy champion, Kieran McCullough has fulfilled his promise to switch category and will make his Light debut this weekend. Fast and fired-up he will certainly be but can the ebullient Londoner match the pace of Owen Jenman, Adrian Crockett and Jack Sales? Over a season, perhaps but in one day, probably not.

But that’s what makes the very first E Plate such an exciting prospect, with the return of former stars such as Jamie Jakins, class debuts (Cadet champ James DeHavilland steps up to Juniors) and switches, we are set for an historic and entertaining weekend.

If you’re considering making the swap from your current category or starting kart racing, Sunday’s event is a great way to meet the drivers and talk to them about what they enjoy about Easykart and get advice and information from the UK importer, Andy Cox and series promoter, John Vigor .

The action starts from 10am at Clay Pigeon Raceway, Wardon Hill, between Dorchester and Yeovil