Round Nine

The weather Gods finally smiled on the Formula Kart Stars contenders as they tried to tackle the monstrously fast but highly enjoyable Nutts Corner circuit in Northern Ireland for the first time. Find out who thrived and who was left saying “oh Nutts” by the end of the day below.

Danny Harrison – Cadet Honda 1st

“We were getting pushed all the way by Connor McCarthy and we had a good battle with him but we managed to keep him behind for the whole race and didn’t make the same mistake that we made in heat two when I let Jack [McGaughey] through at the last corner. I’m really pleased as this is my first proper win in Formula Kart Stars.”

Connor McCarthy – Cadet Honda 2nd

“I started on the second row and got pushed out to fourth at the start but I managed to get back to third and did a double move to catch Danny [Harrison]. I worked with Danny but didn’t have enough time to pass and he got me across the line.”

Enaam Ahmed – MSA Cadet 1st

“I started from pole and led the race for about six laps and then Dean [Macdonald] overtook me and I dropped back to third. Then the whole train went by me and I dropped back to seventh and then I caught up slowly and passed them one by one with Dean [Macdonald].

“On the last lap I caught Oliver [York] and Josh [Smith] and Josh was defending. I overtook Oli on the long left and then I overtook Josh on the next turn because he over defended and I got the cutback and I just led it from there.”

Teddy Wilson – MSA Cadet 4th

“I got a really good start and got to ninth and I was catching Alex [Quinn] and then we pushed and caught up to Ross [Martin] and Adrian [Hegarty] and went up the inside of Ross. Adrian pulled away when I passed Ross and then myself Alex and Adrian were pushing and as we came into the last lap everyone was defending apart from us and we just went for every gap we could see and I got fourth.”

Ross Martin – MSA Cadet 5th

“It was a really good final. My dad kind of mucked up on Friday so I’ve got another mechanic this weekend, James [Williams] who’s been brilliant all weekend. I’ve not been at this track before in the rain so it was tough to see the lines but I knew that if I was near Dean Macdonald or Adrian Hegarty I would be fine. In the final I was up for it as I was starting fifth. I had a good start, a good finish and a bag load of points really so it’s been a good weekend.”

Alex Quinn – MSA Cadet 6th

“It was a really good final. I got quite a bad start and dropped a few positions and then I dropped a few more. But then Teddy [Wilson] caught up with me and we pushed for a bit and then we caught up with Ross [Martin] and we pushed up some more. Onto the last lap the front pack were defending and we caught up. We didn’t defend and kept our heads and caught up. On the top corner I think I passed about five karts in one corner which I was really pleased about. After that I just kept it from there and went on to get sixth. It’s my best podium ever and I’m really happy.”

Anderson Chilcott – MSA Cadet 27th

“I got hit off at the start and then with about seven laps to go I seized my best engine so it was pretty much a bad disaster. I didn’t finish so hopefully I can do better on Sunday.”

Alfie Brown – Mini Max 2nd

“It was really good for me because I haven’t had a podium this year and to get second was quite an achievement for me and the ART chassis. I was thinking ‘do I settle for fourth and take the points because I need them?’ but then Gary Donnelly and Connor Mills had a bit of a tussle together and I just got them on the inside going up the back straight and I got second. I couldn’t catch Lando [Norris] because it was the last lap.”

Flashman Finneran – Mini Max 11th

“It went alright. For the first bit I went up to mid pack but then I dropped back. Then they all started battling and I caught Ryan [Young] and I just followed Ryan. It was a good final.”

Round 10

Mother Nature seemingly decided that one dry race day was enough for the Formula Kart Stars contenders at Nutts Corner and the now familiar pitter patter of rain falling on the tarmac was prevalent for the second half of the Northern Irish voyage. As always some drivers couldn’t wait to get going in the rain while others wished they had stayed in their motorhomes.

Inem Coker – Mini Max 7th

“At the beginning I was quite fast and I caught up with Alfie [Brown] but towards the end the kart started to go off and I had to defend for the last couple of laps but I got seventh which is my highest final position of the year since my win.”

Jai Nijjar – Mini Max 8th

“I got quite a good start but I didn’t have a lot of pace. I manage to catch up and have a battle with Jack McCarthy and Inem Coker but in the end I lost out to Inem and I just didn’t have the pace to finish higher.”

Harry Williams – Mini Max 9th

“I was pretty confident in the final as I showed good pace in the second heat but on the first lap I got hit off at the top corner. I tried my best to get back up there with the top boys but I couldn’t manage it as there was too much of a gap. So it wasn’t a very good day.”

Lewis Kent – Mini Max 11th

“I got a good start but I nearly got spun on the third corner. I managed to hold it and pretty much fought the whole way with Flashman [Finneran]. I got a bit of a gap and left him so I’m very pleased and hopefully I can do it again next time.”

Ross Martin – MSA Cadet 3rd

“Zak [Fulk] was a great help, pushing me and we got away from Josh Smith and Enaam Ahmed and I thought I had second place in the bag but unfortunately on the last lap Zak pipped me but I’m really happy with third.”

William Pettitt – MSA Cadet 8th

“Well, I got a good start and was in about seventh place and I caught up with Oli [York] and ran sixth for most of the race but in then end Hugo [Bentley Ellis] and the IRL plate [Adrian Hegarty] got me so in the end I finished in eighth. But, yeah, a good race.”

Bradley Kent – MSA Cadet 25th

“I got a really good start and I came up the field a bit but my engine didn’t have any power down the straight so when I was coming down the straight and round the first corner everyone was pulling away. On the second from last corner I didn’t get it right and I spun and dropped back to last and finished fourth from last so it wasn’t the best of finishes.”

Connor McCarthy – Cadet Honda 1st

“I was starting on the outside and got pushed back to third, the same as Saturday and just managed to get back into the lead and got helped by Jack [McGaughey] but they started to battle and gave me a gap and then I got a push from Wesley [Mason] and held on to cross the line.”

Wesley Mason – Cadet Honda 2nd

“I’m very pleased. I started from pole, got a great start and got into the lead. Connor McCarthy pushed me and followed me for two or three laps then he overtook me and Jack [McGaughey] followed him through and then I picked Jack off and got Connor. Connor chased me and went up the inside of me and stayed in first until the chequered flag and I had to defend from Jack. I came over and clipped him and he went on the grass. I caught Connor up but he slowed me down and I had to follow him across the line. I’m very pleased.”

Scott Symons – Cadet Honda 3rd

“I had a really good start and got up a place and all through the race I was trying to catch up. There was about a three kart gap ahead and I couldn’t quite catch up but on the last two laps I found some good pace and on the last lap I was right behind them. Then Wesley [Mason] just clipped Jack [McGaughey] and that got me up to third just behind Wesley but I just didn’t have enough time to overtake him.”

Bobby Thompson – Junior Max 1st

“I got into the lead at the start and from then on I just kept going and didn’t really look back and just thought about my own race. Jason Parker was a fantastic mechanic and the kart was set up like a beautiful woman.”