Front-running Ginetta Junior Championship racer Charlie Robertson is in determined mood ahead of the category’s annual visit to Knockhill Circuit in Fife this coming weekend, 25th/26th August, and the hugely patriotic Scottish teenager has his sights set on adding to his 2012 tally of four race victories.
The 15-year-old, whose family originates from Aberfoyle near Loch Lomond, is determined to do well at his true ‘home’ circuit and will be able to count on plenty of partisan support – not just from his friends and family but also the thousands of spectators who cram into Knockhill each year when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship package arrives north of the border.
Going into rounds 13 and 14 of the season, Charlie is third in the Ginetta Junior standings after a year of mixed fortunes. He is, though, only 18 points shy of the championship lead which he held earlier in the season and is hungry to wrest back.
Last time out at Snetterton in East Anglia, the Investigo and Ria Capital Markets-backed competitor was robbed of a potential victory in the first of the weekend’s two races after contact from a rival pitched him off the circuit while leading.
Fired-up to salvage as many points as possible, Charlie mounted an excellent recovery in his HHC Motorsport car to finish in fifth place and he confirmed his scintillating pace by setting a brand new lap record for the Snetterton 300 Circuit.
He duly went on to claim a clear victory in the second race to chalk-up his fourth win of the year, the perfect reply to his earlier disappointment. While delighted with that victory though, success on home soil in Scotland would eclipse any other he’s achieved to-date in his young motorsport career.
“I’m really excited about going to Knockhill, it’s a great track and I’ll have a lot of support there from my family so I’m hoping we can put together our best weekend of the season”, said Charlie, “We’ve had quite a bit of bad luck so far this year so I think we’re due a straightforward weekend where I can just go out there, drive as fast as possible and, hopefully, take two podiums.
“I’d love to win at my home track, it really would be a special feeling and it’d be important for the championship too. We’re still 18 points behind but we’ve got eight races left and two good results at Knockhill could really change things around.”
Rounds 13 and 14 of the season at the 1.27-mile Fife track will challenging enough as it is but Charlie’s first test will come with the journey north from his current home in Whyteleafe, Surrey – a trip of more than 460 miles, well over seven and a half hours on the road!
Following pre-event practice at Knockhill on Friday, 24th August, an additional practice session will take place on Saturday, 25th August, prior to qualifying at 14.35 and the first race of the weekend at 17.35. On Sunday, race two will get underway at approximately 15.00 and will be screened live on ITV4, in High Definition on ITV4 HD and streamed live online at www.itv.com/btcc
These articles are supplied by you the competitor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Championship.
About the Author
More articles by FKS »
