Having enjoyed on-the-limit racing at Whilton Mill two weeks ago, Phoenix FM-sponsored kart racer Lochlan Bearman went into round 10 of the Hunts Kart Racing Club Championship at the Kimbolton circuit in Cambridgeshire.
In Heat 1, having started 12th on the grid, he was caught up in a first corner melee and dropped back to 17th. He went off-track but recovered and drove back to 12th.
In Heat 2 he started from 21st and benefitted from some coming together at the start to make up several places. He then made short work of the field in front to finish 5th.
In Heat 3 he started on Pole and as the field arrived at turn 1, such was the loading (other drivers deliberately pushing the kart in front) Lochlan’s rear wheels were clearly off the ground and he found himself thrust off the track and facing the wrong way. He completed lap 1 in 17th spot. Again he drove a brilliant recovery drive to finish 6th.
Despite all the troubles he was 5th on the grid for the final.
At the start, the driver in 4th place smashed into the 3rd place driver and as the two of them span out they collected Lochlan who then had another kart drive over the top of him. After having to get out of his kart to push it back on track he resumed last and only completed 2 more laps as the kart was too badly damaged to continue.
Lochlan’s father John Bearman spoke of the poor driving standards and lack of action taken by the officials: “It’s unacceptable. Lochlan has been the victim of unacceptable driving for two meetings running at Kimbolton. His championship hopes are now finished and the kart has been wrecked. After the race the chassis was found to be fractured. This should not be happening and these incidents are far from racing accidents.”
Lochlan now needs to repair the kart in time for Round 10 of the Stars at Whilton Mill Championship, which he leads.
“It’s bitterly disappointing, this is my first year in Minimax and to be in with a chance of winning both Championships was really a dream at the start of the season but I drove well and got to grips with this category – to have results taken away like this is really hard to take”, said Lochlan.
“Hopefully we can get the kart sorted and I will give it my all for the rest of the season. I would like to offer my special thanks to Grice Racing Engines this weekend.”
