After a luckless year it all comes right for Singleton at Whilton Mill.Welshman adds Senior Max crown to 2011 Junior Max title.
The inaugural season of Senior Rotax competition in the Formula One Management backed Formula Kart Stars competition has seen its peaks and troughs but it ended on a high for James Singleton (Coles Racing) at a sun-kissed Whilton Mill near Daventry.
The Welshman ended the season with a pair of Challenge victories at the bumpy and demanding Whiltoncircuit, with Sundays win securing him the 2012 Senior Max title and with it, his second consecutive trip tothe Autosport Awards in December.
Formula Kart Stars Senior Rotax ChallengesThe entry list for Whilton Mill contained every Challenge winner thus far in 2012 and it was Singleton, whowon Challenge 8 at his home circuit of Glan Y Gors, who set the pace in Saturdays qualifying session. Thefirst year Senior driver finished the session nearly three-tenths faster than Charlie Turner (Coles Racing)with triple Challenge winners Josh Collings (CRG UK) and Sam Ward (Coles Racing) next in line and theonly other driver with a Challenge win to his name in 2012, Ryan Norris (TMR Developments) rounding outthe top five.
Singleton led a processional heat one from start to finish, beating Turner to the line by 1.7secs with Collings,Ward and Norris following him home at a distance but Singletons near legendary 2012 bad luck returned inheat two when a mechanical failure forced him to retire whilst leading.
Collings capitalised and took the win by 0.4secs over Turner and Norris with Ward and Columbian driverNicolas Morales (Vital Motorsport) completing the top five.
Collings and Turner shared the front row of the grid for the gruelling 21-lap final but both faded in the finalwith Collings eventually retiring and Turner losing out to a charging Singleton, who took the win by 1.5secswith Norris chasing Turner home for the final podium spot and Ward a distant fourth.
Singletons Saturday form carried over to Sunday morning as he claimed his second straight pole position,albeit by a much smaller margin from Norris, Collings and Turner but despite Collings best efforts hecouldnt quite keep pace with Singleton in heat one, which Singleton won by a fraction over one second withTurner a close third.
Heat two began minus both Norris and Collings, who both missed the closing of the grid gate and the racealso lost Turner in the opening laps when his kart ground to a halt at Christmas Corner, all of which leftSingleton with a comfortable cruise to victory from Ward and Andrew Rees-Reynolds (Adrenalin Racing).Those who expected Singleton to dominate the final and claim the title in untroubled fashion were in for ashock when firstly Morales grabbed the lead and then a brief off course excursion dropped Singleton behindall his main rivals. Turners bad luck continued when his throttle cable snapped and it was Ward whoemerged with a comfortable advantage. Singleton quickly passed Collings to move into third and then setabout passing Norris for second.
Norris was dispatched at mid distance and then Singleton set about reducing Wards advantage, catchinghis teammate with a handful of laps remaining and then pulling off an audacious move through The Boot forthe lead, slowing Ward down in the process. Norris then passed Ward for second but couldnt catchSingleton, who claimed the win and the title by 1.6secs from Norris, Ward and Collings.
Results
FKS Senior Rotax Challenge 91. James Singleton2. Charlie Turner3. Ryan Norris4. Sam Ward5. Nicolas Morales
FKS Senior Rotax Challenge 101. James Singleton2. Ryan Norris3. Sam Ward4. Josh Collings5. Nicolas Morales
