Last weekend Lochlan Bearman, Essex-based karting Champion, competed in the East Anglian Trophy Meeting, a large event held at the Kimbolton Kart track in Cambridgeshire.
This meeting also doubled up as Rounds 6 & 7 of the Hunts Kart Racing Club Championship which 13 year old Phoenix FM-backed Bearman was leading going into the event.
Round 6 was on Saturday and heavy rain continued all day leaving standing water around the circuit. The format for this weekend was qualifying with the fastest driver on Pole position and then the driver finishing first would be pole for the next race.
In treacherous conditions Bearman put his machine into 3rd place 1.5 tenths of a second off pole position but very unhappy with the level of grip. “I’ve just not got the grip of some of the other karts, they can change direction and stop so much better – it’s like being on ice”. We need to find something for Heat 1 or we will be struggling” he said.
In Heat 1 he kept it all together as the field negotiated the first turn but it was immediately apparent that he was again struggling for grip. As the front two drove away in a processional race Bearman could do no more than consolidate his 3rd place and was quite relieved to complete the race in 3rd, but still with no grip.
He would start the pre-final from 3rd again and dropped to 4th at the start. He then managed to get up to 2nd before the race began to settle down and follow the same pattern as the first two races. The same winner, same second place and Bearman in 3rd still complaining bitterly about the lack of grip from his wet tyres.
For the final the team and Bearman made radical changes to the kart as they knew he would have no chance of winning. Unfortunately the changes made it worse and despite trying to defend his position he dropped to a disappointing 6th at the finish. “We had to try something very different to have a chance but it did not work” the multiple champion said.
Team Principle of CooperMotorsport Gary Cooper commented “it’s very frustrating that the wet weather tyres are so inconsistent. There were 4 or 5 karts that clearly had better tyres and the rest could barely keep on the track – it’s not a level playing field”
Day 2 for Round 7 dawned with the weather overcast but dry.
Qualifying was terrific with the lead drivers battling it out and spectators watching the live timing intently. With 3 minutes to go Bearman took pole, then lost it. He had to pass another kart on the penultimate lap which cost him time so it all came down to the last lap and with Bearman the last of the front runners to cross the line for his last lap it was all or nothing. As he took the chequered flag for the end of qualifying the timing flashed up with Bearman on pole by 7/100s of a second.
“I’d seen the chequered flag come out so I knew it was my only chance, I just put everything into every corner and each braking zone and it was a great feeling to get told I had pole as I came in” said the teenager.
So for Heat 1 he would start in pole position. A good clean start saw the field negotiate the first few turns with Bearman at the front. His team mate slowly caught him using the slipstream and they then enjoyed a titanic battle swapping places many times. Eventually Bearman got into the front again and held on to take the win which would put him on pole for the pre-final.
Again he started well and led for the first 6 laps. He was then passed but forced wide and could not get back in as a chain of karts drove through demoting him to 5th. He got back on terms and took 4th on the final lap.
This all meant he started the final from 4th on the grid. The final turned out to be an epic race. At the start Bearman made a brave move around the outside of the pack and emerged in 3rd place and held that to the end of the first tour. He then made 2 outstanding moves to hit the front and lead laps 3, 4, 5 & 6. His team mate then took the lead, but on lap 8 Bearman was back in front. There was now a chain of seven karts running nose to tail, all looking for a way past but all having to defend their positions.
Bearman was having to defend and did a fantastic job of being quick enough where it mattered and slow enough not to allow any opportunities for another driver to knock him off or believe they had an opportunity to take a risky overtake. Leading the train of karts from lap 8 through to lap 15 Bearman took victory.
“That was one of the most intense races I’ve had. There was no way I could make a mistake and if I did I knew that I’d be 6th or 7th. Today was just so different to yesterday it’s really frustrating. Yesterday cost me the chance to win the East Anglian Trophy” said Bearman.
“I’m really proud” said his father John, “he was very frustrated yesterday, but just got on with his job and beat some really good drivers even though he doesn’t have the fastest machine. He drove an intelligent, measured race and I could not have asked for more”.
The results over the 2 days mean that Bearman finished 2nd overall in the East Anglian Trophy. “A good result but I feel I would have won with better tyres said Bearman”.
Next race is Round 6 at Whilton Mill 27th & 28th June.
