The future of British motorsport burns bright at the Ultimate Karting Championship

Young motor racing talents from across the country made their way to Scotland’s Larkhall Karting Circuit for a practice session ahead of Round Two of the 2023 Ultimate Karting Championship on 28 April.

The Championship travels all around the country and sees young men and women competing in mixed events at famous karting circuits such as Whilton Mill, Warden Law, and Three Sisters.

Championship director Paul Phelan said this race weekend is probably one of the biggest events that the competition will have this year.
He said: “This is a rare track to race on, and it’s not on many people’s calendars. The track has some great camber toward the last third of the race, and it’s really exciting with long straights and hairpins.

“The last time we came to Scotland was two years ago and there were about 120 drivers. This time, there are 180. It has grown massively.”
Many successful professional racing drivers started their careers in go-karting, including Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Michael Schumacher.

Go-karting is a great way to learn the fundamentals of racing, such as braking, accelerating, and cornering techniques. It also helps to develop hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and spatial awareness, which are essential skills for any motorsport.

Friday’s event was all about practice in preparation for Saturday and Sunday’s main races.

Phelan continued: “Practicing allows racers and their teams to get used to the track conditions. Every time they go out, the conditions might be different, so it’s all about getting used to as many different track conditions as you can.”

The Sports Gazette had the opportunity to chat with team Zip Kart racer Bella Fairclough and her proud dad Will at the event to hear how she was preparing for the race weekend. The 11-year-old recently won the British Women Racing Drivers Club Junior Goldstar award.

Fairclough said that she has never raced on the Larkhall Circuit but felt confident after her multiple practice sessions.

“All the practices I had before I had brake failure, and I had to change the seat which kept catching at the bottom. The last practice session went much better. I’m pushing my limits with each practice session, I’m getting faster around the corners, just seeing where the limit is on each corner,” she said.

Don’t let the size of the karts or the age of the youngsters fool you. These machines can reach speeds close to what you would find on the motorway – something that doesn’t seem to faze the young racer.

“When it is a wet day like today, the kart can reach speeds of 54 miles per hour, and when it is dry, the kart can reach close to 57 to 58 miles per hour. Even though you’re only an inch above the ground travelling at that speed, you get used to it,” she said.

Will Fairclough added: “It was the first time for us at the Larkhall Circuit, and the track conditions have been quite tricky. It’s been dry, it’s been wet, and somewhere in between. So there have been several challenges that we had to deal with. This is for both the driver and mechanics. So, it’s been difficult to find that sweet spot where everything is in tune with one another. Those that have the track’s experience have a big advantage.”

Fairclough began her racing career alongside her younger sister Alice in the Honda cadet class. In April 2022, she achieved a clean sweep of wins over the Motorsport UK club rounds race weekend.

She won the prestigious Wessex Championship plate, and months later in the Rotax festival, she set the fastest laps of the weekend in the cadet class, finishing off the season by driving in several guest rounds at the British Karting Championships.

She also became the first female cadet winner, aged 11, of a Super Final weekend in the Ultimate Karting Championships, which along with another podium placed her fifth in the country.

On winning the Goldstar award, Fairclough said: “I got consistent results, and I kept trying my best, and I think it impressed.”

Next year, she aims to move up to the junior Rotax level.

“I love to go fast. It’s competitive and I love being the best that I can be. My dream is to get into F1, and karting is the first step that I need to take. I enjoy it, and I aim to keep getting better at it as quickly as possible,” she said.

Her sister did not compete in this event but was there to her support.

“At least she is here to support me, watch me, and see how I do,” added Bella.

Go-karting can be a gateway to other racing disciplines, especially Formula 1. However, it’s important to note that success in go-karting requires a lot of dedication, practice, and talent – something that these youngsters are showing at such an early stage in their racing career.

Phelan added: “We created the championship to be as elite in karting in the UK as we possibly can. In the last four years, we have achieved that. The drivers that we are getting here are coming from the world, European, and British championships, and they are all coming together to compete against each other in the Ultimate Karting Championship.”

The championship is broadcast globally across several well-known broadcasting platforms such as Sky, Fox and BT Sport.

It’s not just about being fast on the track, but also about having the right mindset, physical fitness, and the ability to handle pressure and competition. Nevertheless, go-karting can be a great way to start a career in motorsport and can lead to a successful future in racing.