Five of Britain's best karters got the chance to show off their driving skills as they took part in a special driving day at Rockingham. The event was part of the Formula Kart Stars (FKS) Junior Max Championship and was arranged by Junior Max Class sponsor Bradley Ellis.
The chance was given to the recipients of Ellis' Hard Charger Awards, which go to the karter who pick up the most places from their grid position during each of the 12-round series, with Jessica Hawkins, Charlie Turner, Jacob Hunstone, Jack Taylor and Daniel Headlam getting the opportunity.
The youngsters took to Rockingham's wet grip facility to learn about car control and handling to assist them for when they step up from karts to car racing. The Rockingham event follows on from previous FKS events including trackside workshops from the MSA Academy and Sainsbury's Healthy Eating Programme and visits to the McLaren factory and the iZone Performance Centre.
Chief Executive of Rockingham, Charlotte Orton, said: “This is the second consecutive year we have teamed up with Bradley Ellis and Formula Kart Stars to provide young karters with the opportunity to learn the skills they will need for the future.
“Our stance on education is echoed by that of the FKS, and as part of the wider motorsport community we recognise the important role the industry has to play in the development of young people both on and off the track.”
Henry Beaudette, Media Officer for Formula Kart Stars, added: “We are extremely grateful to Rockingham and Bradley Ellis for providing our drivers with this unique opportunity. The feedback we’ve had from our Hard Charger Award winners has been terrific and they all felt they learnt a huge amount about car control in just one day on the wet grip area.
“Since we began our partnership with Formula One Management Ltd we have strived to give our drivers an insight into the most highly sophisticated elements of world motorsport and as the fastest circuit in Europe, Rockingham certainly fits that bill.
“Formula Kart Stars motto is The Road to Formula One through Racing and Education -something our patron Lewis Hamilton has always reinforced every time he meets with the FKS drivers. All our drivers know the importance of maintaining a good record in school so more opportunities are open to them in the world of motorsport when their karting careers come to an end.”
