“Now that’s what you call a Champion!”
Jack Barlow had the crowd on its feet applauding his superb back-to-back victories at Buckmore Park last Sunday (24 July).
Having secured pole position for the first of the two points-scoring finals in the fourth round of the national Super One Rotax Championship, the Strawberry Racing star got a perfect getaway from the startline and quickly set about establishing a commanding lead. With his team-mate Nathan Harrison coming through to 2nd - but having to fend off the attentions of the chasing pack - Barlow edged further away to claim the victory and his 4th win of the campaign.
As dragonflies skimmed across the circuit and the temperatures soared in the late afternoon sun, Jack again kept his cool as the lights flicked from red to green, starting the main final.
Buckmore is notorious for its tricky sequence of corners, especially during the opening laps. To avoid being shunted from behind in the first hairpin requires a fast, clean getaway and bravery on cold tyres and brakes.
Barlow demonstrated this in abundance as he again out-smarted his opponents - only for a false start to be declared and he had it all to do again. Another assured drive through the first few corners saw the Arai, Freem and Super Dry-supported driver head the field into the Kent circuit’s downhill section already beginning to stamp his authority on proceedings.
His pursuers would let him escape and clung doggedly onto Barlow’s tail. Despite the obvious pressure he looked composed and unruffled, and gradually broke the tow.
With his distinctive head down, hands firmly at ‘ten to two’ on the steering wheel-style Jack delivered what became a commanding performance. At three quarter distance, the driver in 3rd looked to have settled for the position, whilst Harrison - urging himself on down the main straight by nodding his head forward - refused to give up. However, with the rear of Barlow’s kart now firmly in the distance he was reduced to being little more than a spectator as Jack swept to his second brilliant victory – crossing the line to rousing applause from the spectators. “Now that’s what you call a Champion!” enthused one onlooker.
Post race, Jack confessed to feeling a sense of welcome relief and surprise at the crowd’s reception to his triumph; “I needed a good round and with loads of people watching, I didn’t want to muck it up. On the slowing down lap and during my victory parade I was really overwhelmed by the support people were showing me. It was fantastic.”
He added, “I worked and trained really hard (prior to the event) which paid off in the the hot conditions over 25 tough laps. I’d been fast all weekend and knew that if I just relaxed, then I’d be able to pull away. Mind you, we went very low on the tyre pressures and that meant the kart was sliding about in the opening stages but when it finally came ‘on’ I was able to edge away.”
