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Ed Brand’s
pre-season preparations were given a major boost when he took a superb Junior
Rotax win at Whilton Mill (27 January).
The
Dagnall youngster’s victory at the Northamptonshire circuit came just a week
after taking a fine third place at PFi, Lincolnshire (20 January), earning him
further praise from team boss, Paul Carr.
Ed says: “Paul said he was very happy with my
performance and that it was my best with the team so far. And that I’d made no
mistakes.”
In his
three heats, Ed signaled his intent by taking 2nd, 5th
and 6th places, which gave him 2nd spot on the grid for
the final. At the start, Ed got the jump on poleman Tom Ingram and quickly
opened up a lead of some two to three kart-lengths. Although chased hard by
Ingram, Ed’s run to the chequered flag was largely uneventful. That was until
two laps from the finish, when he came to lap a backmarker. Ed takes up the
story: “I’d come up behind the tail-ender
but decided not to risk over-taking him at the first opportunity. I waited and
followed him through a corner. This allowed Tom to close in on me but I made my
move at the next bend. I got through cleanly but in order to give me the room,
the other guy baulked Tom and allowed me to re-open the gap”.
It was an
intelligent move that drew the admiration of Carr. “Paul asked me: ‘was that deliberate?’ and I just said: ‘Oh yeah!’”
Ed beamed later.
At the
previous weekend’s race, Ed had faced stern opposition from many older, more
experienced and bigger drivers – including British Open Champion, Joseph Reilly
– but his combination of “risky moves, and some safe ones” saw the
13-year old earn a deserved 3rd place.
Ed’s
campaign of club races will continue throughout February prior to the first
Super 1 race on March 16th. Ed says of his chances: “This is possibly going to be my toughest
year in karting yet. But I’ve got a great team behind me and if the results
keep coming like they have been, I should be in with a shout.”
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