Having won the 2015 Minimax Championship at the Kimbolton Circuit with a round to spare and added 3rd place in 2015 to his 2014 Championship title at the Whilton Mill circuit this year, Phoenix FM-sponsored 13 year old Essex Karting Champion Lochlan Bearman took the opportunity to race in the Junior Rotax final round at Kimbolton.
The Junior Category is for drivers up to 17 years old and karts capable of 90 mph. There was a good entry with a 2 times Champion from 2015 and 2016 and a European front runner entered for the race.
Practise went well with Bearman on the pace from the first session. Race day was very wet and misty with challenging conditions greeting the drivers from the start.
In the first heat Bearman started 3rd and making his customary fast start was leading by the end of the first lap., ahead of the European challenger Sullivan. By the end of lap 2 the positions had reversed with Bearman now chasing hard. After 7 laps Bearman’s tyres ‘came on’ (they reached optimum temperature and grip) and he was looking for a way by. Sullivan had to go defensive and corner after corner Bearman got alongside but could not find a way past. In an exciting final lap they touched but Sullivan help on the cross the line half a kart ahead of Bearman.
In Heat 2 Bearman started mid pack and again making a fast start was into 5th at the end of Lap 1. Slipstreaming along the straight he dived out of the spray and out braked his rival into the ‘Bus Stop’ and finished lap 2 in 4th position. Bearman now had this year’s Champion and runner up in front of him. He began to reel them in each lap and caught them at the start of lap 8. As they battled the Essex youngster caught them in the last corner. As they came down the start/finish straight Bearman took a wide line as they braked for the first corner and dived inside both to take 2 positions and move into 2nd place with a great move. By then Sullivan was gone but Bearman was delighted with his race.
Knowing he would be starting 2nd in the final the team and Bearman wanted to find something extra to win. They chose to use a different set of wet tyres but sadly this back fired as they had much less grip and the young racer could not match his lap times form the previous heats. He eventually finished 5th.
“It was a great weekend”, said Bearman. “I really enjoyed racing against these drivers who I’ve always viewed as some of the best. We did this meeting for fun and did not buy new tyres and I only had intermediate wets not full wets. I knew they were gradually losing grip and so it seemed sensible to use a better set when they were offered. Sadly this season the performance of the wet tyres has been very inconsistent and it transpired these had less grip. It’s a shame but there was no way I could have matched the pace of the winner so we had to try something. But I can walk away knowing I can mix it with the best.
“That could be my last kart race which is a shame although I hope we can find a way to have a couple of races or compete in Europe. Bearman will be 14 in the new year and his focus will change to full circuit racing in the Ford Fiesta Junior Championship for 14 to 17 year olds. I can’t wait to get out on the circuits and start practising. The first round is as Snetterton on the 1st weekend of April. It’s another big jump and a different driving style but I will be giving it all I’ve got. I will be staying with Gary Cooper and the CopperMotorsport Team who have guided me to the Championship title in the last 2 years.
“I’m also totally thrilled to say that I will continue to be supported by Phoenix9 M in 2016 and hope that you will see my car at selected Phoenix FM events throughout 2016.”
The Fiesta Junior Championship will be televised and the Bearmans are hoping that will attract sponsors which will be needed to support testing and tyres. If you want to know more you can contact them at Bearman.racing@gmail.com or via www.lochlanbearman.com.
