RITISH CHAMPIONSHIP

The first 2 rounds of the British Championship were held at Mallory Park on Sunday 14th April. A full entry of over 40 single cylinder F250 National Karts, were vying for early season championship position.

An on-form UK Kelgate Distributor - Jason Dredge (JD Racing) opened the season with 2 clear victories in his Anderson Honda to leave with the Championship lead.

Viper Racing teamsters Matthew Bett and Dean Hawley took 2nd and 3rd spots respectively again on Anderson/Hondas.

The Viper Racing team had missed the earlier Mallory warm-up meeting due to a series of pre-season misfotunes and supply problems and this was both Matt and Dean's first aquaintance with their new karts.

Also showing excellent form and racing up-front were Stuart Parker (Parker Racing/Redspeed), Don Kennedy (Kennedy Motors) and Kevin Waring (Redspeed Racing), all Anderson/Honda mounted.

Jon Neville got his F250 championship season off to a good start with 7th overall after a disaster in the season warm-up at Oulton Park, were he wiped out a front corner. The kart is the ex-Trevor Roberts/Dean Hawley Viper Racing Anderson/Honda presented in concours condition by dad, Phil.

Misfortunes befell 2007 vice-champion Gavin Bennett (GB Racing/Bennetts Coaches) - Anderson/Honda, who suffered a seizure in race 1 and running problems in race 2.

Also succumbing to the gremlins was James O'Reilly (Viper Racing UK/CEM Engineering) - PVP/Honda, who retired from race one with a chain failure and in race 2 with a rare ignition failure.

Both Gavin and James retired from leading positions in race 1 whilst racing each other and James from 2nd spot in race 2.

Expect more from these two competitors in coming rounds.

Taking the first place trophy in the F250 Challenge was Steve Haigh (Carbuyersdirect.com) using Viper Power in his Anderson/Honda.

Mallory Park is probably the hardest circuit on engines with the highest percentage of full throttle running and an immense 180 degree, full throttle, top gear bend (Gerrards). This always causes a very high attrition rate mainly due to fuel surge/detonation/seizure problems.

Next 2 Championship rounds - Oulton Park (Island Circuit) - 26th May

Details can be found by using the following links: