SMITHSON RECOVERS TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THE NKRA FORMULA BLUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 4 of the NKRA BLUE CHALLENGE took place on April 30th at Mansell Raceway in Devon. The forecast showed rain all Sunday and certainly, the 1st head was wet. Thereafter, the day dried up and although rain sometimes threatened it never appeared!
Devon Giles scored another uncontested victory in Cadet HONDA.
Junior BLUE is gradually recovering from the issues which did the grid so much damage at the end of 2022. Another novice, Jack Gillitt, joined the grid for the first time and enjoyed his day, getting better and better with each outing. Alfie Lenton and Rudie Winslow-Morten shared the win on points though it was Lenton who claimed the Final, with Winslow-Mortone a mere 0.13 behind at the flag. Lenton maintains his lead in the Challenge from Winslow -Morten.
In the Formula BLUE class it was, returnee from injury, Joey Foster who won the day on 2 points with an opposite pole and Final win. Second overall was Paul Alexander with 6 points, who scored 3rd position on both the Final Grid and the Final race. Third overall was Anthony Cleal on 7 points with a pole and 7th place finish in the Final. In the Championship placings, it is Harry Smithson who takes over the lead with 19 points, by the smallest of margins ( 1 point) from Cleal. Third in the Championship is Mike Bell ahead of David Waldron and Alex Kemp.
In the Master sub-class, Foster wins the day with 2 points, just ahead of Cleal with 3 points. Alexander, on 5 points finishes 3rd. Cleal leads the standing from Waldron, Kemp, Alexander and Steve Groves.
Cleal and Alexander share the win in the Veteran sub-group with 2 points apiece. Rob Mortimore coming in 3rd with 7 points. In the overall position, Cleal maintains the leads from Waldron, Alexander, Groves and Mortimore.
Chris Underhill, with 3 points, takes the day in the Legend section with John Hartshorne in second with 5 points. Ron Shone and Robin Stoddart-Stones are equal third on 6 points. Hartshorne now takes the Championship Lead on 13 points followed by Shone on 16 points. Stoddart-Stones sits in 3rd place with Stuart Gray and Underhill in 4th and 5th position.
Paul Alexander wins the Top Weight section with a 0-point clean sweep from Mortimore with 4 points and Shone with 6 points. Overall, it is Waldron, using up his drop option, in the lead on 4 points from Mortimore on 15 points and Shone on 21 points. 4th and 5th positions are filled by Alexander and Tom Parker.
The NKRA Championship now takes a well-earned break until June 11th at Lydd Circuit in Kent. Many of the BLUE competitors will, however, continue their racing year with the Two Counties Club Championship opening round at the Clay Pigeon Raceway on May 14th.
For More details and results please visit the results page on the www.planetkarting.uk website or
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