This weekend (24/25 April), Easykart packs its bags and heads to Teesside for one of the most popular races on the calendar.
Featuring a combination of fast straights, tight corners and two, enormous-radius bends (one of which is semi-banked) it is reminiscent of the Shanghai GP circuit and last year produced great racing and physically punished those who weren’t in tip-top shape.
After a thrilling season opener at Ellough last month, the second round, combined with the nature of Teesside provides us with a mouth-watering prospect.
LightLast year’s double Light victor, Oliver Scullion sadly won’t be around to defend his 2009 success, but Owen Jenman his closest challenger, will be. Can he go one step higher on the podium this time? First round winner Patrick Lay will certainly hope not. He will surely be full of confidence after his stunning Ellough performance. Keep an eye on Ben Yeomans – who was fast but luckless at Middlesborough last season – and Jack Sales and Elliot Rice. Both of whom are hungry for their first victories of the season.
JuniorJames DeHavillande shone in the Junior category last month and was denied an almost certain triumph in the main final by a pedal extender working itself loose. Furthermore, he won at Teesside in the Cadet class and will be out to make history as the first competitor to take wins in two separate categories.
Doing their utmost to deny him of this will be Toby Sowery, AJ Morris and, last year’s 3rd-place man, Thomas Grainger. Jamie Cummings and Brandon Williams could also factor when the flag drops.
CadetTrying to predict the Cadet top three is incredibly tough. Like Caesar’s did to Britain, Tom Thickpenny came, saw and conquered. Leaving pre-season favourites Ronan McKenzie and William Stowell wondering what had hit them. Stowell was plagued by engine gremlins and if he has sorted them in time for this weekend, he must be a key player. Similarly, McKenzie was Thickpenny’s closest challenger at Ellough and can realistically expect to be running at or near the front again. Don’t discount Kieran Wragg. Another newcomer into Easykart, Kieran impressed with his pace and consistency and took home a trophy (for 3rd) on his debut.
HeavyBarnaby Pittingale dominated Teesside in 2009, but his success was much aided by Will Smith’s complete absence of luck. Experiencing two punctures in both qualifying sessions, Will had to come from the back of the grid in the pre-final and took a much-applauded 5th after starting from 27th on the grid. In the main final he chased Kieran McCullough, but had to give best to the former pair. With McCullough now a front-running Light racer and Smith making a shock decision to swap classes from this weekend, it falls to Mark Lawrence and ‘Sir’ Tim Hill to lead the chase. Both enjoyed excellent races at Teesside and on current form, can expect to again.
Debunking the Samson theory, Ken Steward came to Ellough with a dramatic haircut and was stronger than ever, despite complaining of being unfit. With a month since to hit the gym, one of the nicest blokes in the paddock could well be worth a cheeky punt on. Behind him in the pre-final but just ahead in the feature race, Gary Poynter will be buoyed by his podium success and Jay Shepherd is due a big result.
That said, like the Middlesborough girls who willingly flash their bits to some of the Easykart contingent last year, someone is surely due to deliver quite a surprise this weekend!
If you’re looking for a fast, friendly series where the emphasis is on driver ability rather than budget, then you’ll love Easykart. Sunday’s meeting is a great way to meet the drivers and receive advice from them and get information from the UK Easykart importer, Andy Cox of ACR and series promoter, Club100’s John Vigor.
The action starts from 10:00am on Sunday at Teesside Autodrome, South Tees Motorsports Park, Middlesborough.
