MIKE CONSIDERS BRITCAR FOR 2008

Following excellent test sessions in a range of cars, Mike is now considering his options for 2008. He is delighted with his first season with Klaassen Motorsport, and has had his contracct extended for 2008 to enjoy their support again, this time probably on a JKH chassis. Looking back at the results, a top 5 in Super 1 was a possibility, and with a years experience at Seniors, more likely second time round.

Mike was due to attend a Renault Clio elimination at Teeside this week, but has to pull out earlier in the year following his dad's illness. Now he could be driving a Modified Clio Cup car if testing at Bruntingthorpe goes to plan. It's difficult to know when to move out of cars, and budget has to play a big part, but fingers crossed that Mike can do some 24 hour races and Super 1.

MOTORS TV SUCCESS

Hoooton Park was the venue for the last two rounds. Mike was in 5th place, 20 points behind Luke Caudle in 3rd and almost the same distance behind Stephen Napier in 4th. The track was short and narrow and at just 35 seconds a lap with limited overtaking. A new MSA circuit, it was a shame that with the land available, it wasn't 50% longer and wider. Most drivers feared the damage it would cause being the final couple of rounds with everything to play for.

In Friday practice Mike was as fast as any and then ran engines in. On Saturday the weather turned, so timed qualifying was a gamble, with Mike on Slicks and most of the runners on wet tyres. Mike was seconds fastest while all those around him were on wets. A fantastic show of skill to keep the kart on the track in such difficilt conditions. In the race, Mike progressed from almost last to 2nd within 8 laps, and then a braking error from 'team mate' Matt Bell, took Mike off the track and back to last. On a difficult track to pass, he regained his composure and clawed back to 4th. By now Mike had moved into 3rd in the Championship, by a sim margin.

On Sunday morning practice was wet, but again Mike gambled on slicks in the damp, and was the fastest, gaining maximum points. For the final round all Mike needed to do was to keep close to Messers Caudle and Napier. Mike somehow got caught up in a mid-field tangle at the start, so Luke got away, but Mike caught and passed Stephen and would have got close to Luke, but was knocked off by young Napier who needed Mike to DNF in order to beat him. Mike got back on and caught him and took him, only to get knocked to one side again by him on the last lap. By then Mike had secured 3rd and will collect his various prizes at KartMania, which is the National Kart show being held at Stonleigh near Kenilworth in a couple of weeks.

Congratulations to Martyn Lyell, who drove well all season and to James Tucker who was also quick at times. Hard luck to Luke Caudle, who just missed out on his Super 1 championship and then finished 5th in this. Unfortunately the TKM class won't be run in 2008, but we have a free entry, so we will have to consider another class of Kart.

Finally brilliant work by Alan Taddie and his team. A really good series.

SUCCESS AT SHENINGTON SUPER 1

Although the weather was mixed during the weekend, the end result was a 9th place in the final round of the National Championship, which secured Mike a seeded number for 2008 should he decide to continue in karting. Foe his first senior season this was an excellent performance particularly as he spent the first five race meetings developing the TEC-MEC chassis.

It was clear at the British Open held at Shenington in August that with all the TEC-MEC drivers finishing well down the field and only Mike getting anything like a decent run in the final, that he had to try an alternative. Last month he used a JKH for the first time for England, and then at the recent club meeting Mike was very quick, so he stuck with the second hand chassis we bought earlier this year.

The TEC-MEC chassis was the main reason Mike lacked straight line speed and the JKH solved that problem, but he still felt that his motors lacked the pace of the front runners and if he does race in Super 1 again, this will have to be an area of improvement. Suffering from a heavy cold, Mike couldn't regain his qualifying pace from Saturday, but he did enough in heats 1 &2 to secure top 10 finishes, and was well placed in heat 3 when he was driven over on the second lap of eight and his rear bumper and exhaust became removed. Mike returned to the pits and his team did an excllent job of getting new items fitted within a couple of laps so he could rejoin and gain valuable finishing points.

In the final, Mike progressed well and was on his qualifying pace which let him gain positions, but with an 18 lap final, the kart started to lose grip after lap 8 and so he slipped down a few places, knowing that a top 10 finish would secure his status as a seeded driver. Considering there are over 500 TKM drivers currently racing, to get another top 10 finish is a fine achievement. Hopefully with some sponsorship in 2008, Mike will aim for a higher finish.

Thanks for help this weekend go to Josh his mechanic and David Klaassen his manager. Unfortunately Billy Baxter who is the junior TKM driver in the Klaassen team, just missed out on a seeded place for 2008, but with youth on his side, he has the potential to improve in 2008.

Just one meeting left for 2007 and that is the Motors TV last couple of rounds at the end of the month at Hoton Park close to Liverpool. The circuit is a new one so no one has the advantage of driving too much there. By then we hope to have a fresh race motor thanks to the new TKM regulations and barrels.