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Strawberry maintains upper-hand despite bruising weekend at Buckmore
Russell and Fawcett maintain S1 leads, Pullinger makes progress and Barlow takes podium on team debut
30th June 2010
The merest mention of Buckmore Park produces strong reactions in the British karting community. It is what can only be described as a ‘Marmite track’ - you either love it, or you hate it.
The British Super 1 series’ visit for the 4th round of the Rotax championship on June 26/27 presented the team with an opportunity to consolidate its lead in the Mini and Senior classes, and maintain Jack Marshall and Shaun Pirie’s title challenges in the Junior category. Reigning Formula Karts Stars and Kart Masters Mini Max champion Jack Barlow made his first high profile appearance with the team and would complete his debut with a trophy.
In Mini Max, George Russell successfully increased his lead with strong 4th and 3rd place finishes in the finals. He and race team manager Dave ‘Dodge’ Gregory worked well together, soaking-up the pressure from the competition and chipping away for good points-finishes whilst avoiding the numerous crashes.
“George is doing an exceptional job,” observed team supremo Warwick Ringham. “He’s only 12 and racing kids up to 15-years old. People also forget it’s his first year, so he’s doing really well. He’s extended his lead with excellent 4th and 3rd place finishes, while several of his closest rivals dropped points.”
The Junior trio of Jack Marshall, Shaun Pirie and Jack Barlow all experienced mixed fortunes throughout the weekend. All three found themselves in the wars and struggling with the performance from their Vega tyres. In the first final Barlow charged his way from 19th up to 4th at the chequered flag, while Pirie was forced out with a broken chain and Marshall finished at the back of the field after a crash put paid to his chances of another strong finish.
In the main final, Barlow went one place better and claimed a deserved 3rd place - his first Super 1 podium of the season. Shaun rocketed up the order and crossed the finishing line in 9th position, having started from 27th on the grid. Similarly, Marshall had clawed his way up the order to 11th, therefore taking sufficient points to keep him firmly in the title-race.
“I’m very happy for Jack (Barlow), he’s proved he’s the right driver for the team. Shaun was unlucky in the first final and considering that he’s still adjusting to the characteristics of the Tony kart chassis, he was very good also. As for Jack (Marshall) he ended up in the weeds at the start and had to fight hard to get back into it. He didn’t give up and you can expect more than that.”
The unusually high temperatures (30+ degrees) appeared to inspire some incendiary driving in the Senior ranks and crashes were plentiful.
After a sensational drive from the back of the grid to 5th, championship leader Tom Fawcett had reason to be optimistic that his fifth podium of the campaign was possible - but after being clipped from behind and launched skyward moments after the start, he was forced into damage limitation mode. In the ensuing crash drivers swerved to avoid him, his team-mates James Greenway and Barrie Pullinger were caught in the melee, with James forced to retire almost immediately. Barrie’s took to the grass before returning to the circuit and claiming an eventual 9th place, besting Tom by three places.
Japanese star Ren Nagabuchi’s tough initiation into British racing continued. A spirited drive sadly ended on the sidelines, with just four laps to go.
Summing up their positions in the standings, Warwick said “Tom’s still leading the championship, albeit by a slightly smaller margin. Barrie’s moved up a place and both Ren and James have managed to improve their standings. There are three rounds to go and we know we cannot afford to be complacent but the drivers know that and, together with our partners Ogden Motorsport, we will be pushing even harder from here on.”
Jack Barlow and George Russell return to the Formula Kart Stars series this weekend 3/4 July), when it visits the picturesque Glan Y Gors circuit in North Wales.
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