Russell completes stellar year with third national title, while Barlow is FKS vice-Champion
Strawberry Racing bowed out from this year’s Formula Kart Stars championship on a high after George Russell and Jack Barlow dominated the penultimate round at Ellough last weekend (16/17 October).
Russell completed his mastery of the Mini Max class with a faultless display at the East Anglian venue, having already won the Super 1 and Kart Masters titles. The team’s sole representative in the category sought to complete the historic treble at the Suffolk track.
He signalled his intentions with the fastest lap in timed qualifying and duly converted his pole position in the first heat into a comfortable victory. He won the return encounter to claim p1 on the grid for the final.
A matchless performance saw the outgoing Cadet Champion underline his enormous potential with a clear win to seal the championship.
“George was sheer quality,” said Strawberry’s clearly delighted Team Manager, Warwick Ringham. “I think he was very relaxed after winning the Super 1 title just two weeks before and was just really on it at Ellough. He just cleared off in the heats and the final. He was definitely at his best.”
In Junior Max, his team-mate, and last year’s FKS Mini Max winner, Jack Barlow was equally impressive. Despite never having seen the circuit before, Barlow hustled his Tony Kart EVR to set the second-fastest time and then won the first heat. In the second, he completed a dominant lights-to-flag victory.
From the start of Saturday’s main final, Barlow got a perfect getaway and wasted little time building a comfortable advantage. With lively scraps for position behind him, he was able to concentrate on maintaining his place, setting the fastest lap, and ultimately crossing the line well clear of the next driver. The points haul he took from the day secured vice-Champion status.
“Jack did exactly the job he needed to do,” said Warwick. “He never gave up and kept pushing to the last. He looked relaxed throughout and firmly in charge. He was the class of the field.”
With the points for their respective championship positions settled both drivers elected not to race in the series’ concluding round the following day, with Jack particularly keen to preserve his equipment for the forthcoming International Open at Zuera in Spain (27/31 October). This will be followed by his debut appearance in the Rotax World Finals, at the superb La Conca circuit near Muro Leccese in southern Italy (17/21 November).
Opportunities to race with Strawberry and the Tony Kart Junior Racing Team in 2011 are still available - although now limited. For more information, please call Warwick Ringham or Paul Spencer on 0114 269 6215/0114 288 9933 or e-mail info@strawberryracing.co.uk
