They Might Be Giants
Along the A37, the road leading from Dorchester to Yeovil, there are signs pointing to the idyllic village of Cerne Abbas. This sleepy, idyllic home to just 800 souls isn’t only famous for its connection with Thomas Hardy (who called it Abbot’s Cernel in Tess of the D’Urbervilles) but also the enormous, priapic chalk giant carved onto a hillside nearby.
Some say the Cerne Giant was created by the Romans and symbolizes the god Hercules, whilst others claim it is more recent than that and is in fact, a cheeky caricature of Oliver Cromwell. If you happen to chance across someone wearing woad, sandals and sporting an enormous beard - which is not uncommon in Dorset - they’ll probably spraff on about it being an ancient, pagan symbol of fertility. But they’re a randy lot hippies, so they’ll find any excuse to slip sex into a conversation. Which leaves a last, hitherto unknown, theory - the Giant is merely excited by the prospect of Easykart’s return to Clay Pigeon, just a few miles away.
Since the series’ UK inception three years ago, the West Country circuit has been a popular fixture on the calendar and invariably rewards its inclusion by producing spectacular racing. After two enthralling opening rounds, it remains to be seen if Clay will throw up more new winners, or confirm some drivers as principal title contenders, despite the championship not yet reaching the half-way mark.
Cadet
One driver shaping up to be in the latter category is Tom Thickpenny. So far the Scot has delivered a perfect score, but found the going far tougher at Teesside last month than he did at Ellough during the opening round. Ronan McKenzie and Kieran Wragg have kept him honest and are both just nine points shy of his tally. Behind them is a gaggle of drivers, separated by the slenderest of margins. The smart money would suggest that Easykart Driver Programme member Will Stowell is due a big result, whilst Kyle Forgie, Jack Vallance and the appropriately named, Jenson Murchison, will all be looking for their first visits onto the podium this year.
Junior
Two rounds down and two winners – Toby Sowery and James DeHavillande. Another win for James would underline his obvious talent and create jitters among his rivals, whilst Toby will be working hard to recreate his Ellough race-winning form. Thomas Grainger and Jamie Cummings are close behind in terms of points, but it is Luca Hirst who could well emerge to be the strongest threat to DeHavillande’s title aspirations. A lacklustre run at Ellough gave him an early wobble, but he bounced back with a fine second place at Middlesbrough to give Luca reasons to be optimistic as the season progresses.
Light
Back to back podiums (2nd and 3rd) have carried Elliot Rice to the top of the table, but so far he hasn’t had the win he is so clearly capable of taking. Doubtless he will be delighted to return to the scene of his E Plate triumph. Last year, Rice won a pulsating encounter and will surely be a factor this weekend. Runner-up that day, Owen Jenman is desperate to take his first Easykart win and is always fast at Clay. So too though is Kieran McCullough. Last month, he out-foxed Rice in the battle for the runner-up spot and the Londoner will have only one focus for Sunday - to win. As if that wasn’t enough of an embarrassment of riches, Joe Paterson will again be in the mix. Having won in the North East, the Essex ace is enjoying his debut Easykart season and just one victory will not be enough for the former American ICA front-runner.
Heavy
With reigning champion McCullough and E Plate holder Will Smith now in the Light brigade, Barnaby Pittingale has to be the odds-on favourite to take his first Clay Pigeon win. He is a prolific race winner, but curiously a victory at the Dorset circuit has eluded him. It would take a brave man to bet against him breaking his duck this time around. However, Gary Poynter has run him extremely close in 2010 and grows in confidence with each race. Similarly, Mark Lawrence has shown phenomenal pace but lacked that final, killer blow. If the popular Scot can hook it all together and enjoy a little bit of luck, he could well be in the frame to add the summer title to the winter crown he claimed in the 2007/2008 season. Tim Hill struggled in round two but knows Clay well and is a regular front-runner. Like Lawrence, he has yet to claim an outright victory but this can only be a matter of time. The action starts from 10:00am on Sunday at Clay Pigeon Raceway, Wardon Hill, between Dorchester and Yeovil.
