13 year old Essex karting Champion Lochlan Bearman was back in action at the weekend competing in Round 9 of the series that he currently leads.
Having been struggling with engine power issues for the last 3 months Bearman’s Rotax race engine blew up during practise leaving him no option but to use his spare engine. “We’ve been struggling with straight line speed for some time said Bearman, and this is probably why. Having fitted the spare engine he was quickly back on the pace albeit still wanting a little more performance from his motor.
The format for this weekend was qualifying which would determine your position for Heat 1 and Heat 2 and the combined results of qualifying and Heats would determine the grid position for the final.
Phoenix FM driver Bearman was disappointed to qualify 6th. “We’ve just missed something in the set-up – probably too low on tyre pressures” ,he said after qualifying.
Starting Heat 1 in 6th he ran around the outside of the pack and dived back across using the ‘undercut’ to emerge 3rd as they entered turn 2. At the end of lap 1 he out braked the second placed kart and was on the tail of the leader as they started lap 2. He passed the leader into the ‘Bust stop’ and never looked back as he extended his lead and took a comfortable win.
Again from 6th Heat 2 was very different – again trying to run around the outside he was fully committed when another driver was forced across his path and into the tyre wall leaving the Essex based driver nowhere to go. He had to wait until the other kart was cleared by which time the leders had gone. Although he managed to catch and pass another kart he only finished 6th.
These results left him with a starting place of 4th for the final. Again making a good start he came out of the first corner in 4th place, and was all over the back of the kart in front as they started lap 2. He passed them on the run down to ‘Bus Stop’ and quickly closed the gap to second place. As they entered the final corner at the end of Lap 2 Bearman made a late braking move down the inside and crossed the line in 2nd place.
On Lap 5 he made his move for lead and having pushed the leader to brake late he was able to cut back and drive through on the inside.
By now the leading 6 karts were very close, as they entered the last corner on Lap the second placed kart lunged down the inside and passed Bearman but was unable to control his kart and slid wide forcing Bearman to back off, as he did a chain of karts came through and he was suddenly down to 5th place. Undeterred he caught and passed 4th place into turn 1 with a text book out braking move. On the next tour and in turn 1 he got a great exit and pulled off a double over take into and through the ‘Willows’ complex to get 2nd.
As they started Lap 10 he had made up the ground to the leader and using the slipstream ‘tow’ he passed going into Bus Stop. Whilst the first 5 were nose to tail Bearman placed his kart perfectly left nothing in the braking zones and controlled the race from the front for the remaining 5 laps to win by 3 tenths of a second.
“It’s great to be back on the top strep a delighted”, Bearman said. “It’s been so frustrating knowing I was quicker but being unable to do anything about it. At least we’ve sorted the issue with low revs and I know that the spare engine is working well.
“I’ve scored more points that my Championship rivals as well today so it’s been a great result for us.”
Bearman also had his first taste of full circuit Racing when he drove the CooperMotorsport Ford Fiesta Junior race car recently. “It was great, I’d really love to move up to cars next year and then on Formula MSA single seaters in 2017 when I’m 15.”
