KART STARS GET TO GRIPS WITH NEW SKILLS AT ROCKINGHAM
FIVE of the best up and coming British racing talents were given the opportunity to put their driving skills to the test at Rockingham when they swapped their karts for real cars.
The youngsters, who are more at home racing around karting tracks across Europe and the UK, took part in a special driving day at the Northamptonshire circuit as part of the Formula Kart Stars (FKS) Junior Max Championship.
The event was arranged by Junior Max Class sponsor Bradley Ellis as part of his Hard Charger Awards, which are awarded to the karter who picks up the most places from their grid position during each of the 12-round series.
As part of their prize, the youngsters were invited to the circuit to learn more about car control and handling on Rockingham’s state-of-the-art Wet grip facility, in preparation for their step-up from karting to motor racing.
Chief Executive of Rockingham, Charlotte Orton, said: “This is the second consecutive year we have teamed up with Bradley Ellis and Formula Kart Stars to provide young karters with the opportunity to learn the skills they will need for the future.
“Our stance on education is echoed by that of the FKS, and as part of the wider motorsport community we recognise the important role the industry has to play in the development of young people both on and off the track.”
In the past 12 months FKS has been able to provide trackside workshops from the MSA Academy and Sainsbury's Healthy Eating programme as well as a designated homework area in race control, a visit to the McLaren factory and the iZone Performance Centre.
All of which have been designed to give FKS drivers as many tools as possible when they graduate into car racing whether it is behind the wheel or on the technical side of the wider motorsport industry, where Britain is a global leader.
Media Officer for Formula Kart Stars, Henry Beaudette, added: “We are extremely grateful to Rockingham and Bradley Ellis for providing our drivers with this unique opportunity. The feedback we've had from our Hard Charger Award winners has been terrific and they all felt they learnt a huge amount about car control in just one day on the wet grip area.
“Since we began our partnership with Formula One Management Ltd we have strived to give our drivers an insight into the most highly sophisticated elements of world motorsport and as the fastest circuit in Europe, Rockingham certainly fits that bill.
“Formula Kart Stars motto is The Road to Formula One through Racing and Education -something our patron Lewis Hamilton has always reinforced every time he meets with the FKS drivers. All our drivers know the importance of maintaining a good record in school so more opportunities are open to them in the world of motorsport when their karting careers come to an end.”
The young karting drivers, four of whom finished in the 2010 Formula Kart Stars Junior Max top ten standings, who took part in the event were Jessica Hawkins, Charlie Turner, Jacob Hunstone, Jack Taylor and Daniel Headlam.
Jessica was also one of the three finalists in the 2010 British Womens Racing Drivers Club Gold Star contest along with winner Alice Powell and Louise Richardson - who are both former Formula Kart Stars alumni.
