Dorset 15-year old Craig Copeland (Wimborne) will graduate to the pinnacle of British Championship karting – Formula A - this year, having won the British Junior title last season by nine points from nearest rival Adam Christodoulou (Shenstone, Lichfield).
Copeland, one of the most talented youngsters in British karting, began his Formula JICA campaign last year in superb fashion by taking a hat trick of consecutive victories during the opening three points-scoring Finals of the season.
Rival Lee Bell (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) broke Copeland’s stranglehold on the top step of the podium during the second points scoring Final at PF International circuit near Grantham, Lincolnshire, but a further win for the Dorset ace, along with four other podiums, saw him take a deserved title triumph – and he’s now hoping to do the same in Formula A.
The teenager will certainly have his work cut out this year against the likes of reigning Formula A Champion Mark Litchfield (Rocester, Staffordshire), ex-Formula A Champion Gary Catt (Andover, Hampshire) and 2003 Formula JICA Champion Riki Christodoulou (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands).
But for Copeland, the strength of competition will only serve as a bigger incentive to get to winning ways as soon as possible – at the expense of some of the most famous faces in British Championship karting.
He commented: “We’re sure it’ll be a big step to Formula A but I’m confident in my ability and I want to start winning races as soon as possible. It’ll be tough against experienced Formula A drivers like Mark Litchfield and Gary Catt, and then there are new faces to the class like Riki Christodoulou, but I hope it’ll be a strong season – I’m looking forward to it.”
It has been announced, top drivers from the 2005 Renault UK-backed Formula JICA class will not only be aiming for title glory during the forthcoming season – they also have the chance to impress in a bid to secure a place on a specially-arranged Formula Renault UK and ELF Renault Clio Cup test day at Croft Circuit in October.
Arranged by Renault Sport UK and multiple champion team Manor Motorsport, the initiative aims to give the cream of British karting talent an opportunity to experience a Formula Renault 2.0 car for the first time. In addition, Renault Sport UK will also link up with one of its Clio Cup teams to offer the same opportunity in one of the incredible saloon cars.
In conjunction with leading weekly publication Motorsport News, which features all the latest news from the worlds of karting and Formula Renault UK each and every Wednesday, a yet-to-be-determined panel of experts will keep a keen eye on the 2005 karting season with great interest before deciding who will receive an invitation to the test on Tuesday, 25th October.
The opening round of the Renault-sponsored British Karting Championship Formula JICA class takes place on Sunday, 6th March, at Three Sisters circuit near Wigan.
For the latest British Championship Karting news visit the official Renault Sport UK website www.renaultsport.co.uk built by Racecar
