UK's most competitive hire-kart series takes off at Daytona Milton Keynes' International Circuit

130 drivers including Sports Car ace, Alex Brundle, storm off the grid in quest for DMAX glory in first of ten round series

The 2016 TW Steel DMAX Championship got underway at Daytona Milton Keynes on Sunday (21st February) with a staggering 130 drivers including professional Le Mans Sports Car ace, Alex Brundle, participating in the first round of the 2016 series. With grey skies and strong crosswinds welcoming the drivers at the Buckinghamshire track, it didn't take long for the off-season cobwebs to be blown away!Chris Carter, although reportedly feeling a little under the weather, took little time to find his feet and although qualifying in P2, was soon into the lead and started where he left off in 2015 with a well-deserved win.There was a very strong return to DMAX from 2012’s Heavy Heats 3rd place finisher Adam Christopher, who after losing P1 to Chris on the first lap and being gapped in the first quarter of the race, got his head down and closed the gap right back up to challenge for the race lead. Eventually Adam had to settle for 2nd place, with Jamie Pender rounding out the top three, having started in P4 and managing to pass and escape Lee Witney’s grasp mid-race. Adam Christopher also took home the trophy for best placed Super-Heavy driver.With a busy grid of Light drivers being led off by professional Sports Car racer, Alex Brundle, the likes of Joe Conroy, Toms Golding and Sibley, former DMAX supremo James Baldwin and reigning DMAX Champion Chris Hackworth, would all be looking to hit to the front and gain the best start to their respective campaigns. Hackworth ultimately showed his class to take the win, with Baldwin 2nd and Tom Sibley taking 3rd place. Brundle held on to take a well deserved 4th place. The final Endurance race of Round One was a sold-out grid of 30 Intermediate category drivers. With Bobby Trundley the favourite for pole-position, the bookmakers would have been over the moon when Matthew Conroy pipped him to the post by just two thousandths of a second. Ben Oliver rounded out the top three In the race, it didn’t take long for Trundley to hit the front and start building a lead whilst an epic race ensued behind with Luke Cousins, Ben Oliver and Conroy battling throughout for 2nd and 3rd. The drivers finishing 5th through to 9th were covered by just 5five seconds when the chequered flag dropped.The Heats Championships got underway in the afternoon with busy grids across the board. Chris Carter and Bobby Trundley both rounded off their day’s with Final wins, although Chris was under very strong pressure from Tomasz Zaustowicz throughout, with the latter finishing top of the Heavy Heats Championship standings. Chris Munro finished the Heavy Final as the best placed Super-Heavy driver. Tom Golding took the Light final win after a great battle with Cameron Noble to ease the disappointment of a 6th place finish in his Endurance outing earlier in the day.The drivers finishing 5th through to 9th were covered by just five seconds when the chequered flag dropped. The final Endurance race of Round 1 was a sold-out grid of 30 Intermediate drivers. With Bobby Trundley the favourite for pole-position, the bookmakers would have been elated when Matthew Conroy pipped him to the post by just two-thousandths of a second. Ben Oliver rounded out the top three. In the race, it didn’t take long for Trundley to hit the front and start building a lead whilst an epic race ensued behind with Luke Cousins, Ben Oliver and Conroy battling throughout for 2nd and 3rd. Call Mark on 033 033 278 70 if you would like to take part in Round 2 at Daytona Sandown Park on 20th March.