Easykart Rounds 5: Rowrah, Cumbria – 25 July

Smithson turns up the heat

Ask any top chef and they’ll tell you that timing is as important as using the freshest and finest ingredients. With all the mastery of Marco Pierre White, Sam Smithson took a superb maiden victory in Cumbria, to dramatically put himself into title contention.

Early Light Championship leader Barnaby Pittingale struggled for pace, and was forced to drive for points over podiums - whilst Clay Pigeon winner Terry Langley was soufflé-like, rising through the order in qualifying and the pre-final to take 2nd behind Sam in Saturday’s main final, before turning the tables and winning Sunday’s encounter.

On his visit to Rowrah last year, Owen Jenman snapped a clutch, was dragged along on his chest by an errant kart – but still came back to finish 6th. This year, he enjoyed a somewhat easier time of it, climbing on to the podium for the first time this season. However, he admitted that he “didn’t have the pace of Terry or Sam”, adding, “Sam drove faultlessly.”

Having watched Barnaby Pittingale in practice and qualifying, Langley knew that one of his closest title-rivals was seriously down on pace. “Barney was struggling with his weight, especially out of the two hairpins.” Attempting to steal a march on Pittingale and Sam Smithson, Terry decided to “go for it” at the start of Saturday’s final. “The kart wasn’t brilliant - but I drove around it. I wanted to consolidate my Championship position. I finished 2nd and Barney was 6th, so that was alright.”

Whilst Langley’s tone was a mixture of pleasure and relief, Smithson’s was one of pure delight.

“I got in the lead and pulled away, but Easykart is so equal that it’s hard to create a gap. I just got my head down and tried not to make a mistake – like come off! The backmarkers worked out nicely for me because I got past cleanly, but when the others caught them they were held up.” Sam said at a similar pace to that of his kart.

It was a hugely popular win, with several drivers including Steve Youle and Langley pulling alongside Sam to shake his hand. “Everyone was congratulating me. There was great sportsmanship shown, particularly from the guys I’m fighting for the Championship with.”

A barbecue was fired up to celebrate Sam’s win, although he vehemently denied rumours that he was seen loading up Barnaby’s plate.

Elliott Rice’s metronomic consistency in the Junior Championship was rewarded with a superbly taken win in round 5. After losing out to Jack Sales – “He has a knack of just pipping me” – in Timed Qualifying, the South Londoner out-raced his friend and rival in the pre-final. He said, “We both got a good start and I held 2nd - but a few laps later I passed Jack, and it stayed that way to the flag.”

After swapping the lead several times with Sales in the main encounter, Rice settled the matter by finally getting his nose in front, whilst Sales came under pressure from Connor Hambleton. The trio circulated, nose-to-tail, and all posted 49.9 fastest laps. At the flag, they were 9 seconds ahead of the impressive Christopher Waldock – who later received the Alpha Heating Innovations-sponsored prize for top novice, a radio controlled buggy.

Jack Sales described his side of the action brilliantly; “I started from 2nd and got out of the first corner in that position. I followed Elliott for a couple of laps, and then passed him at the second hairpin. I then lead for three or four laps before he re-passed me at the same bend. I then tried to take the lead back going into the flick right at the bottom of the hill (leading into the Stewart Esses) and messed up a bit really. The kart bogged down and Elliott was able to open up a gap. I caught him back up and reduced Elliott’s 1-second lead, but I made another mistake and Connor was right behind me. I had to go quicker into the corners, so he couldn’t try to out-brake me. This gave Elliott a comfortable victory but moved me into 2nd in the Championship, although I think he’s about won it now – he’s been so consistent”.

After taking his first Easykart podium at Ellough, Connor Hambleton was the only other Junior who looked likely to give the Rice-Sales roadshow a run for its money -“They’d got away, but within two laps I’d caught them. I made a move for 2nd at Iredale’s and then again at the double right-hander (Stewart’s). Jack defended really well. I settled for 3rd, which I was happy with, although I thought that 2nd would’ve been possible if I’d pushed harder. But I went for the finish rather than risk a DNF”.

Can anyone stop Oli George’s march on the Heavy-class crown? After establishing a new Heavy lap record in the pre-final in his lights-to-flag win, there was a very real prospect that the Championship leader would simply motor off into the distance in the main final. However the resurgent Firas Bilbeisi had other ideas.

“I got the jump on Oli at the start and led for the first nine laps. I ran wide at the first hairpin and was aware that Oliver was right behind me. As we ran towards the second hairpin I pointed him through – I thought I’d see what he’d got”. There was consternation in the pits. Did Firas have a problem? This didn’t appear to be so, as he was now following Oliver through the twists and turns just inches off his rear bumper. Had Firas really just handed the lead over without a fight?

“Rowrah’s a circuit where you can think you’re driving on the limit if you’re leading, but if you then follow someone you can either learn that they’re braking so much later than you or where they’ve got a better line” was how he explained one of the Championship’s most bizarre moments.

He added, “I wouldn’t say I gave it to Oli. I also thought I’d felt the engine nip up and decided to settle for second. I was choking the motor through the corners, but when I came into the pits and we checked it, there was nothing wrong.”

Bilbeisi ‘nursed’ his kart home, some three seconds behind George - but five ahead of Will Smith in 3rd.

With more action set for the following day, many of the drivers returned to their awnings to work into the dusk-light, re-thinking their set-ups and looking to find those vital few point-grabbing tenths.

Easykart Light

1st: Sam Smithson
2nd: Terry Langley
3rd: Owen Jenman
4th: Steve Youle
5th: Tony Longstaff
6th: Barnaby Pittingale

Easykart Junior

1st: Eliot Rice
2nd: Jack Sales
3rd: Connor Hambleton
4th: Christopher Waldock
5th: Jack Mitchell
6th: Brad Fairhurst

Easykart Heavy

1st: Oliver George
2nd: Firas Bilbeisi
3rd: Will Smith
4th: Duncan Horlor
5th: Kieran McCullough
6th: Stephen Porthouse