As if it was not enough that he finished third in both British championships in 2009 having entered the campaign as a virtual unknown, North Wales’ leading karting star James Singleton is now preparing for the cherry on top of a superb season – receiving his award for doing so from reigning F1 World Champion Jenson Button at a glittering ceremony later this month.
The 14-year-old began 2009 off the back of a learning year in the sport in 2008, when he had ranked 36th in the country in the Mini Max class of BRDC Stars of Tomorrow – the same series that first set Lewis Hamilton, no less, on the fast track to future F1 superstardom – after competing in six rounds out of nine, with a best finish of 15th place along the way on foreign shores at Genk in Belgium.
For 2009, the championship metamorphosed into Formula Kart Stars (FKS) and gained the prestigious official backing of both Hamilton and the sport’s highly influential ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone – and James similarly stepped things up more than a few gears. If he had merely dipped his toe into the water in 2008, twelve months later the Conwy ace made arguably the splash of the season.
“It’s been our first year of really racing up at the front,” he reflected of his sensational breakthrough in both FKS and fellow national series Super 1. “It has been difficult at times in terms of trying to get the set-up right and having to get used to all the different tracks – and competing in both national championships.
“Super 1 and FKS were a lot harder than I had expected them to be in comparison to club level racing; the drivers are a lot more aggressive and the pace is a lot more fast and furious. That was a bit of a shock at first, to be honest – when we arrived at national level I don’t think we really knew what had hit us! After three or four meetings we started to get the hang of it, though...”
Truth be told, James is being modest indeed, as his maiden triumph came only second time out in FKS, when he converted fifth on the grid to the top step of the rostrum at Kimbolton – and his peerless consistency would yield a further four podiums from seven starts, as well as a trio of fastest laps, victory at Genk and a clean sweep in the Whilton Mill finale, meaning he won twice more than the eventual champion.
Such scintillating form rapidly transformed the Penmaenmawr speed demon from a rank outsider into a genuine title contender, and having set out attempting to secure a top ten championship finish in FKS and Super 1 – disadvantaged as he is in terms of experience – to wind up third in both against the indisputable crème de la crème of British opposition was a tremendous achievement.
“After I won at Kimbolton, I started to think that it might be a good year,” James confessed. “I think it made a big impact on everyone else, seeing us right at the front – and it gained me a lot more respect on-track. I had used to get pushed off quite a bit before that, but I think it helped to change my reputation in the paddock. I had honestly never expected to win that soon; I’d been hoping possibly for a podium by the end of the year...
“Genk was definitely a highlight. The leading four drivers were all so evenly-matched, but I just got the break at the crucial time – and when it’s such a close race it always makes it that bit more exciting. I’d say it was my best win of the year. We proved our pace and we were coming on stronger and stronger towards the end of the season, and overall I think we got the best results we possibly could. I really don’t think we could have pushed any harder.
“I’m looking forward to the awards, but nervous about them at the same time, because I’ve never been before. Nine months ago, I would never have believed I’d be there and receiving a trophy from Jenson Button. I’m a big fan of his, and in 2009 he did so well – so I’m really excited about meeting him.”
With his self-confidence clearly boosted, James and his Coles Racing team now already have their sights set on 2010, when in addition to graduation to the more powerful Junior Max class in Super 1, he will get his first true taste of international competition in the Euro Max Challenge, held in Spain, France, Germany, Austria and Belgium.
A significant step forward in his career, the Ysgol Aberconwy pupil knows the different grip levels that expose and punish even the tiniest of errors will be a true test of just how far he has progressed. On home turf, meanwhile, as he prepares to test a chassis bearing the initials and input of grand prix-winner Robert Kubica whilst evaluating his options for 2010, James insists that he is targeting merely a top ten finish.
“I’m really looking forward to Euro Max!” he enthused. “I enjoyed racing at Genk, so it should be brilliant, and it will be interesting to see what European racing is really like. It’s going to be another learning experience, but time is on our side. Junior Max is more competitive and more aggressive than Mini Max, but we’ve been fast so far – I just need to add that extra little bit of racecraft to my armoury.”
His form and progress to-date suggest he will do rather better than just the top ten. After all, everybody knows who James Singleton is now.
James is seeking sponsors to support him in 2010, and if you are interested in backing North Wales’ brightest young F1 hope, please contact his father Mark on 07795 297350 or at: gwyneddforklifts@ukf.net
