THE DRAMATIC RETURN OF JAMIE WATTS
Jamie Watts ( Ex. Junior Blue front runner of many years ago !) returns to the Formula Blue Championship with a dramatic result. Despite having to start on ‘black plates’ ( the NKRA regulation where more than five years have elapsed since last competing) and rear of grid start in all three heats, he qualified on Pole! No mean feat since all the front runners ( less Stuart Gray and Rich Puddle) were present.
Then to emphasise his dominance on the day, he led from the lights to take a stunning win. Joey Foster (the Series leader) snatched 2nd place from Anthony Cleal ( Current no. 1) on the penultimate lap but had to give the place back following a 5 second penalty for a dislodged nose cone. So, Cleal finished 2nd on the day with 5 points, Foster and Callum Jobson shared 3rd place with 7 points, although Foster gets the ‘nod ‘ by virtue of count back. 5th on the day was James Dawkins. Once the points were collated, Foster remains in the overall Series lead with 14 points. Cleal moves up from 4th to 2nd. Jobson also moves up from 5th to 3rd and Dawkins moves up to 4th, with Steve Groves 5th, so completing the top five. Harry Smithson, who was challenging the lead, was well on the leading pace but suffered total brake failure in a heat. Efforts to fit a speed Calliper ( possible the best brake in Karting ) to his kart without the necessary bracket proved unsuccessful, consequently he was unable to take part in the Final.
Jamie Watts won the day in the Master sub-class from Cleal, Foster , Dawkins and Russell O’Neill. It is Foster, however, who leads the Championship from Cleal, Dawkins, Groves and absentee, Stuart Gray.
In the Veteran section, Cleal takes a minimum points win from a rejuvenated Paul Alexander. Dave Waldron and Ron Shone shared 3rd place on points but count back gave the position to Waldron. Rob Mortimore finished the day in 5th. In the Championship standings, Cleal takes over the lead followed by Groves with Gray, Mortimore and Waldron bringing up the top 5.
Alexander, back to his former fast levels, took the Top Weight section with a clean sweep in points. Alex Fortune claimed 2nd place from Shone, following a Final where the two of them regularly swapped position, often side-by-side. Mortimore finished 4th with Dean Smithers in 5th spot. In the standings, Fortune retains his lead from Mortimore though Alexander ( by virtue of the absence of Stuart Adam) jumps up to 3rd overall. Shone stays in 4th and Adam slips to 5th.
In the Junior Blue class, the newly crowned ‘0’ plate Champion Jacob Felton took an uncontested win, placing him in the Championship lead from Alfie Lenton, the current number 1 plate.
A much improved Devon Giles, cemented his front position in the Cadet Honda class with a clear win.
Drivers now have just under three weeks before round 5 of the Championship at Fulbeck. It will be a break much needed in order to clean and prepare their equipment following the ‘filthy’ state of the equipment after the very wet race weekend at Dunkeswell.
For more results, points and positions to date, please CLICK HERE or go to the Results page menu on the www.planetkarting.uk website.