Essex Kart Champion Lochlan Bearman started the defence of his Minimax title at Whilton Mill on Sunday.
After a troublesome day on Saturday searching for the right set-up Bearman started the first heat in 20th position on the grid. Typically he made an excellent start and crossed the line in 13th position at the end of lap 1, struggling for grip he left the door open at the ‘Boot’ and let 2 karts past, at the end of lap 3 he was back up to 13th place having re-taken the places. As they came into the boot for the next lap he was punted out and lost 3 places before recovering to finish 15th.
For Heat 2 he started 24th on the grid and had made set0up changes to his machine. Another great start saw him 15th at the end of lap 1. With the kart working much better now he made places every lap and was in 10th by Lap 6. On Lap 9 he moved up to 9th and help that position for the remaining laps.
In Heat 3 he would start from 4th place and was looking to win the heat from there. Completing Lap 1 in 4th and moving up to 3rd on Lap 2 before the Battenberg Flag came up which means the entire field must slow down, but it also means that they all catch up again. When they were given the green flag to continue racing Bearman was looking to make a move for 2nd when he was again punted from the rear forcing him wide and allowing 6 karts to pass him as he regained control and slotted back into the train. Now down in 10th spot he rallied to finish the shortened heat in 7th place.
These results put the Phoenix FM driver in 7th place on the grid for the final.
For once he did not get a good start and was 10th at the end for the first circuit. Then a kart in front was dropping coolant onto the circuit which was causing mayhem throughout the field as drivers went off, spun or were otherwise caught out by the slippery surface. Bearman quickly realised what was happening and moved up to 8th by Lap 4, 7th by Lap 6, and 6th by Lap 8. Now gaining on the pack in front he was looking for a 5th or 6th place finish when he was again hit from behind on the very last corner of the race, catching the spin and keeping the kart out of the wall he kept going to finish 8th.
Due to the poor driving standards the race result was held for some time before being confirmed and one of those ahead had been excluded resulting in a 7th place finish.
“It should have been a top 3 finish” said the 13 year old. “The driving standards today were just appalling and was more suited to bumper cars. But at least we finished and without too much damage and I can take the positives that our pace was good”.
Bearman’s next event is Round 2 of the Hunts Kart Racing Championship at Kimbolton on February the 8th where he will be hoping for a repeat of last month where he won all the heats and the final.
