After four years racing under the Tony Kart Junior Racing Team banner, Paul Spencer’s multiple championship-winning team will once again compete under its original name - Strawberry Racing.

Formed in 2007, the Tony Kart Junior Racing Team was an instant success and won the 2008 WSK and European KF2 titles with Flavio Camponeschi. The arrival of Ben Cooper and Chris Lock for the following season saw the former going on to claim the WSK KF2 crown and Lock winning the Nations Cup in 2010.

During that same period, Strawberry Racing became one of the most successful teams in the Rotax categories – both at home and abroad. This year it dominated the Super One and Kartmasters Championships with Jack Barlow (Jnr) and Ed Brand (Snr).

Paul Spencer says: “Mr Robazzi (owner of Tony Kart) and I realized that having two similarly named teams competing against each other didn’t serve either of us particularly well. Furthermore, with Strawberry’s enormous success in Rotax, I have a great platform from which to re-introduce that brand into KF racing and create a global presence under one banner.”

Speaking on behalf of the whole team, Paul adds: “It’s fantastic to bring the two halves back together again. We will be able to really develop our talent ladder now by working closely to take the fastest and most gifted Rotax drivers and give them the opportunity to graduate into the KF3 and KF2 ranks. We did that with Ben Cooper, Luke Varley and Chris Lock and it’s something we’re committed to doing again and again.”

After winning the Final Cup at Ortona (30 October) with Danish KF3 star Nicklas Nielsen, the Tony Kart Junior Racing Team’s swansong event will be this weekend’s (10/11 December ) CIK-FIA Asia Pacific KF1 and KF3 Championships at Macau. However, the re-branded outfit will continue to operate from Tony Kart’s Prevalle headquarters in Brescia, Italy.