Phoenix FM-sponsored Minimax driver Lochlan Bearman went into this weekend’s race Stars at Whilton Mill leading the championship and looking to continue a run of strong results and good form.
Saturday practice went well but the high track temperatures were causing problems for many of the front runners.
As usual there was a full grid of 34 drivers from around the UK and with some international drivers cutting their teeth in the UK which is regarded as the best country in which to learn.
Heat 1 – Lochlan started 15th and drove through the field making some great overtakes in places where people do not normally overtake, to finish 4th despite getting airborne when running over the back of another kart.
Heat 2 – he started in 33rd position and incredibly came out of the first corner in 7th having managed to avoid a melee. Just as it started looked very good for him and the kart showing great pace the throttle cable snapped meaning he did not finish.
Heat 3 – Lochlan finished 4th again and this put him 12th for the final.
At the start he held his position then made 2 places as the field went in Christmas Corner. As they came into the next left hander he was hit from behind and put onto the grass re-joining in 17th place. From there he steadily moved through the field making position on each lap. He caught the pack of 4 karts squabbling for 3rd place with 1 lap to go but as everyone had started to defend could not find a way past, eventually finishing 7th right behind the 6th placed man.
After the race Lochlan said it was really disappointing as he had the pace and the set-up to be on the podium. “If the throttle cable hadn’t snapped we would have started on the front row, and if I hadn’t been pushed off in the final I still believe I would have made the podium. But as my dad tells me there are many disappointments in motor racing so I have to take the positive that we had the speed that half way into my first season of Minimax we are one of the front runners and I still scored a good number of points.
“I’m still desperate to get my first win in this category though and it would have been great to do so as Phoenix FM came on board as a sponsor from this weekend. Also big thanks to Grice Racing Engines and Cooper Motorsport.”
