Formula One might well be the world’s fastest and most glamorous form of motorsport, but when it comes to maximum drama, nothing comes close to karting, a fact confirmed by the several hundred spectators who cheered Oxford’s Nathan Harrison to a nail-biting victory at Larkhall (26 June).
The Strawberry Racing driver, who started second on the grid for the first of the day’s two points-scoring finals round the Lanarkshire circuit, produced a typically gritty performance to bag his third win of the season and seal pole position for the following encounter.
Despite leading for each of the race’s twenty four laps, Harrison was run very close in the last few corners of the last lap by his team-mate, Jack Barlow.
“Jack was pushing really hard,” Nathan explained. “He drove exceptionally well to come from 12th place to 2nd. My tyres weren’t working as well as his were. This meant that I was running at the same pace as the rest of the field but Jack had two tenths of a second advantage over us. When you’re chasing it’s always better and he had me to aim at.”
Knowing he was under pressure from Barlow, Harrison responded by picking up the pace. Still Jack closed and the final tour was an absolute nail-biter as the pair ran nose to tail. Each feint and darting move was met by Nathan firmly closing the door. As the chequered flag was readied, they had just one corner left to negotiate but Harrison had enough in hand to seal his second win of the day.
“I pushed when I needed to and brought it home,” the clearly delighted youngster beamed as he was surrounded by his team-mates and family. “I saved my tyres as instructed,” he added with a nod to his mechanic Dave ‘Dodge’ Gregory.
After suffering a heavy crash in the previous round and dropping vital points as a consequence, Nathan’s back-to-back victories in Scotland have put him back in the hunt for overall victory. Three rounds remain with the next one held at Buckmore Park in Kent (24 July).
“It’s not my favourite track on the calendar but I always seem to go well there. Based on previous results, it seems to like me and after Larkhall, my confidence is good. I’m looking forward to it.”
