As a young karter, praise does not come much higher than when it comes from a successful practitioner in the sport, the kind of driver you aspire to emulate in years to come – and for Walsall star Roy Johnson, being tipped for great things by 2007 British GT Champion Bradley Ellis is an endorsement and then some.
A former karting ace himself, Ellis was an interested spectator at the Whilton Mill round of the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone-backed Formula Kart Stars Championship (FKS) – the same series in which he had competed a decade earlier in the MSA Cadet and Junior Yamaha classes, back when it was known as McLaren-Mercedes Champions of the Future.
In 2008, Roy not only lifted the laurels in FKS, but he also did so in fellow national championship Super 1, as well as in the prestigious annual Kartmasters and ‘O’ Plate outings – a feat that had never previously been achieved in karting history, with Formula 1 World Champions Hamilton and new McLaren team-mate Jenson Button amongst a whole raft of drivers to have all tried and failed.
There were understandably high hopes indeed as the 14-year-old graduated from Cadets to the more powerful KF3 level last year, but budgetary woes ultimately resulted in a fragmented and frustrating campaign – albeit one punctuated by moments of pure, unadulterated brilliance. Whilton Mill was just such a moment.
Making a one-off return to FKS, Roy demonstrated his scintillating raw pace in qualifying to line up an excellent fifth on the grid aboard his Stuart Wright Racing-prepared mount, but Lady Luck would fail to shine upon the Pelsall-based speed demon when the starting lights went out as he found himself unceremoniously turfed off the track and into the barriers, leaving him plum last and with much work to do. What followed was little short of spellbinding.
“He was unlucky in the race when he went half a lap down on everybody at the beginning, and he did well not to get bogged down in red mist,” Ellis remarked. “He just kept his cool and got on with the job in-hand, knowing he had to come back through without pushing too hard and risking making mistakes.
“He looked by far one of the best drivers out there – equally as quick as the leaders – and that was with having to fight his way through traffic. He caught half the pack up and overtook most of the field. It was a mega drive.”
The lap times would confirm that contention, and clearly impressed by what he had seen, Ellis went on to predict a bright future indeed for the Great Wyrley Performing Arts College pupil, as he underlined the importance of karting as a breeding ground for young drivers bidding to follow in his wheeltracks by going on to achieve long-term success in cars.
“Karting is where you learn a lot of your racecraft and technique through close competition and battles,” the 22-year-old explained. “It teaches you how to analyse situations better as a driver; you get to know when to try to overtake somebody rather than just going for any move. You get a lot of track time too, whereas if you go straight into cars you won’t, meaning it takes you longer to pick everything up.
“What Roy did in 2008 was very impressive – he dominated the year – and as long as he continues to drive as he has been doing and provided he also receives the right backing and right tuition along the way, he will definitely go on to do very well. He is far too talented for such a promising career to be allowed to just dwindle away.”
Roy is seeking sponsorship to help him to fulfil his ambition of reclaiming his British crown in 2010. If you are interested in backing him, please contact his father (also Roy) on 07973 212911
