Step-brothers James Singleton and Andy King are ready to whip up a desert storm in the United Arab Emirates next weekend, as the lightning-quick duo prepare to take on the very best of international karting talent in the prestigious Rotax World Finals at Al Ain Raceway.
Both rookies in the blue riband event, the pair will each be up against no fewer than 71 world-class rivals of the very highest calibre around. James secured his place in the end-of-season showcase outing through his runaway charge to the title in the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone-backed Formula Kart Stars Championship with Coles Racing – ascending the top step of the podium an incredible seven times during the opening ten rounds to clinch the crown.
The 15-year-old Conwy-based speed demon acknowledges that with only three British drivers from the Junior Rotax class having been selected to represent their country in the Middle East, it is a tremendous privilege to be one of them – and now, he similarly recognises, it is up to him to do that faith invested in him justice. James has already got off to an extremely encouraging start by winning his very first race on an ‘RK’ chassis – almost identical to the Birel mount he will campaign at Al Ain – to serve signal of his intent.
“We were ecstatic when we found out we were going to the World Finals,” enthused the Ysgol Aberconwy pupil, who received the news only a day after a crushingly disappointing conclusion to the national Super 1 Series that had seen him denied third place in the standings through no fault of his own. “It really brightened everything up again.
“To get through to the World Finals was one of the main goals we’d had all year, and it means so much to us to be a part of it. It’s pretty much the best three drivers in Britain at Junior Rotax level that have been chosen, and it’s an absolute honour to be going over to the UAE to represent our country. “I’ve taken to the RK very well, and we were pretty quick straightaway; it seems to really suit my driving style and I think it will work even better in the kind of conditions we’re likely to find over there, and being outside of Europe, the track will be new to most drivers, so it should be a level playing field right from the outset. The competition will certainly be tough, though, and physically it will be tough, too, because of the weather, the temperature and the level of grip.
“All-in-all, I’m fully expecting it to be the hardest weekend we’ve ever had, but I’m ready for it and we’ll put everything we’ve got into trying to win – and even if we come out of it just having learned, we’ll still be happy. It will be a really good experience either way. I can’t wait to get out there!”
Those sentiments are echoed by step-brother Andy, who earned his own World Finals ticket through finishing a strong third in the Senior Rotax class of Super 1 this year, triumphing twice along the way and tallying an impressive six further rostrum finishes – four of them in swift succession at the end of the season.
The 17-year-old Myerscough College student – who is hoping to compete extensively on international shores in 2012 – will not have the luxury of being able to try out the Sodikart chassis he will be racing in the UAE due to the difficulty of procuring one in the UK. That means he will likely head to Al Ain with no previous experience of it and will consequently be plunged right in at the deep end – but Andy has proven on many an occasion that he is nothing if not a quick learner.
“I was absolutely over-the-moon when I was told the good news, it’s a real once-“I was absolutely over-the-moon when I was told the good news,” the Rochdale ace confessed. “It’s a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go and race somewhere like that and against the crème de la crème of Rotax drivers from all around the world. I can’t wait!
“The racing will clearly be hard and it will be important to remain focussed, but my goal has to be to win. Just having the chance to go there in the first place is something pretty special all on its own, so if we get a result, too, that will be the icing on the cake – but if we don’t, it will still have been a good experience and we can return next year and finish the job off!
“I won’t be putting any pressure on myself, but I’ll be aiming for the top because my ambition is always to be number one – and to win the World Finals would undoubtedly be the highlight of my career so far, an awesome addition to any driver’s CV!”
