Phoenix FM-sponsored racing driver Lochlan Bearman entered Round 9 of the Stars at Whilton Mill Championship leading the Minimax category.
With a good-sized grid of 25 similar machines, Lochlan started Heat 1 from 12th position on the grid, and made the most of the busy opening lap to end lap 1 in 6th position. He made another place on lap 2 and secured 4th place by lap 7 where he finished the Heat.
In Heat 2 Lochlan started on pole. He led until lap 3 when he was overtaken by Championship rival Kieran Wragg. He wrestled the lead back from on Lap 8 with the 2 karts embroiled in a hectic fight for the win. Wragg snuck through on the penultimate lap and help on for the win.
In Heat 3 Lochlan would start 22nd. This time he put in an even more amazing opening lap coming across the line in 10th place and the end of lap 1. He then made consecutive passes to be 8th on lap 3. He then had to take avoiding action when 2 karts in front spun and in taking to the grass dropped to 13th place. Once he rejoined and got the tyres back to operating temperature he set about regaining lost ground and moved steadily back through the pack to finish the race in 6th place. Unfortunately for Lochlan Wragg, who had been behind him when the off track incident happened was able to get through without issue and went on to win.
This left Wragg on Pole for the final with Lochlan in 2nd. At the start Wragg and Brandon Phillips got ahead of Lochlan and they went into Christmas corner nose to tail with Wragg leading Phillips from Lochlan. On lap 2 Lochlan got a good exit from the 1st corner and slipstreamed past Phillips to take 2nd. On Lap 3 he pulled the same move on Wragg to take the lead. On Lap 4 the 22 kart of Brooke Shields made the most of the leading scrap to hit the front. On Lap 6 Lochlan made it back into the lead with a late braking move and held the lead for the next 3 laps. With time running down it became a four kart battle for the win with each driver having to attack but also defend. The karts were side by side all around the circuit. ON Lap 9 Wragg dived down the inside of Lochlan to take the lead but Lochlan was right with him at they entered the penultimate lap. Shields gave Lochlan a small nudge as they exited the last corner which was enough to drop him away from Wragg as they started the last lap. Lochlan then had to defend from Shields and Phillips to ensure a 2nd place finish.
Lochlan said, “I felt I still had opportunities to go for the win on the last lap but once Kieran had got the gap and I had to defend it was always going to be difficult. I really wanted the win but it is better to have the points and concentrate on the championship. Fortunately Kieran has only gained 3 points on me today. We’ve struggled on power all weekend and had to change engines 5 times to find the best set-up. We changed engine today for Heat 3 and that was the right decision. The CooperMotorsport team got the chassis set up spot on and overall it is a good result.”
Lochlan’s next race is at the Kimbolton Circuit in Cambridgeshire in October.
