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The new Karting
Show at Autosport International hosted an array of launches and a plethora of
stars, from Big Chris from Roary the Racing Car® to Formula One stars Jenson
Button and Mark Webber, at the NEC, Birmingham,
hailing the official start to the karting season.
The Karting Stage
formed an integral part of the new Karting Show, attracting an impressive line
up of drivers allowing the next generation of karters to rub shoulders with
motorsport legends. Not only did Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber make a
surprise visit, but Honda Racing F1 team’s Jenson Button chatted freely with
host Alan Hyde on Saturday.
As well as talking
about the year past and season ahead, Button shared his karting experiences
with the audience and imparted his expert advice for aspiring champions, while
Mark Webber’s top karting tip was to make sure every young driver thanked
their parents after each race meeting. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver
Gary Paffett, American Le Mans Champion Allan McNish, ITVF1’s Mark
Blundell, BTCC title holder Fabrizio Giovanardi, and sports car racers David Brabham and Johnny Mowlem also headlined and
helped to encourage more people, young and old, into karting.
BRDC Stars of
Tomorrow sponsor Martin Plowman exclusively revealed his new signing with RC
Motorsport powered by Volkswagen for the Euro F3 Series. Other visiting karting
graduates included Formula Renault racers Scott Jenkins and Adam Christodoulou,
British GT Champion Bradley Ellis,
plus a healthy scattering of karting champions including British Formula A and
Kart Masters Champion Chris Rogers, and European KF3 victor
and official Birel Motorsport driver Jack Harvey, to name a
few.
The Karting for the Disabled launch
headlined the Karting Show with BRDC Stars of Tomorrow unveiling its
partnership with Karting
Endeavour, a group of drivers who do not wish their disability to interfere
with their love of motorsport, and the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA). BRDC
Stars of Tomorrow Director Carolynn Hoy,
Kumar from Karting Endeavour, MIA Chief Executive Chris Aylett, and Karting for
the Disabled patron Martin Plowman, introduced the unique tri-partnership that will
utilise the championship Race Control Centre to transport modified hand
controlled karts to race meetings.
Chris Aylett, MIA Chief Executive,
commented: “There is a genuine corporate interest in the exclusivity of
this programme and we have been extremely encouraged by the warm and welcoming industry
response. The launch has also encouraged direct approaches from many parties
wishing to get involved, all of who have been inspired by the character and
passion of those whom this programme will benefit. People like Alex Zanardi,
and Michael AE Mackenzie who visited the launch, embrace a ‘just do
it’ attitude and refuse to accept the potential problems in the way of
their choices.”
The Motorsport Foundation programme
run by the MIA will help fund the £50,000
initiative. Anyone interested in supporting Karting for the Disabled should
contact Clare Stone at the MIA on 02476 692 600.
Racing 4 Charity’s BP Ultimate
102 Unleaded Kart Challenge on Friday combined with the Racing 4 Charity
auctions, held throughout Saturday and Sunday on the F1 Racing display, raised over
£47,000. Thanks to the efforts of a plethora of stars from across the
motorsport spectrum, a host of charities are set to benefit, including: Bliss (The Premature
Baby Charity), Richard Burns Foundation, Whizzkids, NARA (The Breathing
Charity), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Warwickshire &
Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Christies Hospital Cancer Ward (Manchester),
Breakthrough Breast Cancer, The British Heart Foundation, The Multiple Sclerosis
Society, WOMAC and The Butterfly Appeal for About Face, Cerebra and Karting for
the Disabled.
The CR Scuderia Renault team of Nick
White, Adam Christodoulou, Sten Pentus, Sam Jenkins and Scott Jenkins took the
spoils in a nail biting finish. The DTM All Stars team of Nigel Green, Gary Catt
and Jamie Green came second with Calamity Clios third.
Some lucky members of the public had
the chance to race alongside the fantastic array of stars, with all public
places sold out in advance. But it was Adrian Ricardo-Batty, from Newbury, who won
the public driver fastest lap shoot out. Delighted to win a Thruxton Motorsport
Lamborghini Experience for his efforts, Adrian
commented: “I’ve had a fantastic time and it was great to have the
opportunity to pay and race for Whizzkids alongside such a fantastic group of
celebrity racers.”
The second 24-Hour Kart Race at
Autosport International delivered outstanding racing that went right down to
the chequered flag. Inaugural Autosport International 24-Hour victors, triple Le Mans 24-hour champions and double British champions, team
Equipe Vitesse, returned to defend their title against 11 highly-competitive teams,
including team Mat Cleaning from Spain.
With the teams closely matched, as
the race entered the final 30 minutes team Magnificent Seven led from Equipe
Vitesse with both teams on the same lap. The pace did not relent but despite Equipe
Vitesse’s efforts, Magnificent Seven crossed the line a marginal
two-tenths of a second ahead after a staggering 3877 laps, crowning Chris
Rogers, Ashley Sutton, Jack Harvey, Luke Candle, Charlie Burridge, James Dixon
and Jason Parrott as the 2008 champions. Mat Cleaning finished third on 3863
laps.
Britain’s
karting elite attended the Karting Show on Saturday. BRDC Stars of Tomorrow
competitors dominated the Karting Stage proceedings for the presentation of the
2007 awards, with some special guests in attendance. Red Bull Racing’s
Mark Webber made an unexpected appearance while younger visitors were delighted
to meet Big Chris from Roary the Racing Car® who presented the MSA British
Cadet awards.
Super
One, the UK’s largest and longest-running
national kart championships, boasted its biggest Autosport International stand
to date, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. All 2007 championship
drivers benefited from two free tickets and a strong contingent visited the show
on Saturday.
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