Karting1 Podcast

Video below

Quite unfairly many drivers have accused PFi Kart Circuit of having a dull layout, well, its not an accusation that can be made any more. The new extension, bringing the track into line with top CIK standards, sees PFi explode into one of the most incredible tracks in the UK.

First two turns are very fast!

Driving the new extension is quite a bizarre experience. As you escape the old track and onto the new you are welcomed with a high-speed chicane that then goes under a bridge. You genuinely feel like youre moving at some speed through this section. Its seriously quick!

Some bumps still need to be ironed out

Next up is a banked left hander. Being banked your kart changes direction very quickly so you can attack it quite hard because the kart will grip. You then rise up a rather steep hill into a medium left hander that brings you onto the bridge and then a tight right back onto the back straight and onto the old layout.

Mark Litchfield parked up on the new bridge

The new layout isnt without issues. There are some bumps that will need to be ironed out, but from a driving perspective it is very very good!   Check out our videos below of the new layout and a special interview with track owner Paul Fletcher

Onboard the New Layout

Youtube link http://youtu.be/x4Ten2-nH-I

Karts on Track

YouTube link http://youtu.be/2kMtyMSWL0I

Interview with circuit owner Paul Fletcher

Share this article

Hide Sites

The achievements of GFR Engines are staggering. Multiple British and European Championship winning engine tuners, GFR have become a major player in the world karting scene as well as becoming an integral partner to kart engine manufacturer TM.

Headed by Gordon Finlayson, they continue to produce some of the best engines in the world for the KF classes. We caught up with Gordon at the latest round of the Super 1 championship to discuss his success and how he feels KF can be improved.

Listen to the interview here

Gordon Finlayson (right) A man always in demand at the kart track!

Where the magic happens This place can get very busy!

Jordan Chamberlain on a GFR TM came within 1-lap of the ultimate prize in 2010 The World Karting Championship

Share this article

Hide Sites

Does Gary Catt have one of the best jobs in world? Probably! He is a fully fledged professional kart driver for the TonyKart works team. We chat to him about what it takes to be a pro kart racer and how he approaches driving a kart at the top levels of international karting. He reveals how he likes a kart to handle and why him and team-mate Marco Ardigo set up their karts very differently.

Find out more from he interview here -

(sound quality reduction near end due to small technical issue)

Garys first professional job came with racing for Paul Fletchers kart team

This year Gary Catt will be focussing entirely on KZ racing

Share this article

Hide Sites

The Rock Island GP is a fantastic street race held in the USA every year and a similar event could be on the cards for the UK as Cheltenham Motorsports are planning to emulate the event for 2013.  The project, promoted by Cheltenham Motorsports,  is being sponsored by a group of local businesses aiming to bring more trade to the Cheltenham area. Plans  include using proper karts including KZs, meaning it will be a full-on proper kart race instead of a gimmick using rental karts. This is the real deal and it sounds sensational!

We got in contact with Pete Allison, MD of Cheltenham Motorsports, and this is what he had to say

Cheltenham Motor Sports was formed about a year ago to look at the feasibility of mounting an eventually nationally leagued karting race, actually in the streets of Cheltenham.  Its quite a major project as you can imagine, its going to take an act of parliament to acheive!..

Everyone agrees it is a very exciting project and everyone is very keen to make it happen I think its true to say up until this point, in terms of the authorities and people who have a say in running the town centre, we have an absolute unanimous vote of lets try to make this happen for the town.

Pete Allison Speaking to Alan Dove Karting1.co.uk on the Cheltenham Motor Sports Karting Street Race

Share this article

Hide Sites

Even we were surprised when Anthony Davidson told us that karting is the closest thing to F1 there is, and that his hardest races were in karting!  For anyone who doubts the level of competition in karting, or the value of karting to drivers who want to make it to the very top then listen to this interview from a man who has seen it all!

We bumped into Anthony at the Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge at the Docklands raceway, and he was happy to give us this great audio interview.

Davidson was racing for the Radio5Live team at the Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge.

Anthony Davidson Genk 1996 European Formula A Championship

Share this article

Hide Sites

Listen to what the stars at the Supernats had to say to our roving reporter Alan Dove about how tough it is for F1 and Indy drivers to step up to racing karts against the best!

In this MEGA Podcast Alan speaks to:

1. Sebastien Buemi -F1 driver for Torro Rosso racing an Intrepid in Super Pro KZ2 class

2. Dan Wheldon Indy Car Champion and Indy 500 winer racig in TaG

3. Gary Catt Works factory Tony Kart driver racing in Super Pro KZ2

4. David Fore Works CRG driver and multiple world karting champion racing Super ProKZ2

5. Peter De Bruijn 1980 karting world champion and winner again in 2005 as team manager

6. Danillo Rossi 1997 karting world champion with own range of DR karts

7. Gary Carlton The USAs man in europe, works CRG driver

8. Dave Sera Top Aussie racer famous for monster lock ups

9. Michelle Bumgarner Raced worldwide at highest levels

10. Jake Dennis Top Bristish KF3 Racing Steps racer

F1 star Sebastien Beumi wasnt over-joyed with his performance in Vegas but enjoyed the challenge.  However the Intrepid team went home with a 1-2-3 finish with Bas Lammers taking home the $10,000 prize. If you are looking for an Intrepid dealer in the UK head over to Griffin Racing at www.griffinracing.org.uk.

Dan Wheldon was again calling karting the purest form of motorsport.  How right he is! Dan is always very keen to give back to karting, and describes the efforts he went to in order to make this event.  Dan Wheldon had a lot of his UK karting success mounted on Wright Karts.  See for yourself at www.wrightkarts.com where youll find Dan Wheldon and JB racing for Wright

Gary Catt was impressed by the pace of his F1 rivals in Super Pro, and is still getting to grips with the KZ kart himself having been brought up exclusively on direct drive.  Gary races for the Tony Kart works team, the choice of Michael Schumacher For more on Tony Karts check out the Strawberry racing website www.strawberryracing.co.uk

Davide Fore is probably the most respected kart driver currently racing, rates the Supernats as maybe the second most important race of the year for KZ karting -  and is currently a works CRG driver.  CRG have been a dominant force in world karting this year, and for UK competitors interested in CRG go to JJR Motorsports website www.jjrmotorsport.com

Peter De Bruijn, World Champion driver in his own time and winner of the World Champs with his driver Oli Oakes running the PDB Gillards.  Peter Explains how his focus is still on making Gillard karts among the best in the world.  For the latest Gillard karts in the UK go to the Kart Parts UK website www.kartpartsuk.com

Another karting legend Danillo Rossi talks about how the presence of the F1 drivers, and their performance relative to the current crop of karters shows how professional our sport is.

Gary Carlton had a disappointing meeting overall despite an impressive comeback drive in the final. Gary is Americas representative in Europe and is leading the ascendance of American drivers reputation worldwide.

David Sera, a top class Australian karter is at the Supernats to show off the Arrow range of karts.  Everyone will recognise David from the lock up videos that we picked up he even gives us some lock up tips!

Michelle Bumgarner has raced all over the world including at top level European level and has ventured into open wheel and tin top car racing, and featured in one of our own very first special features.

Flying the flag for the Brits abroad Jake Dennis dominated the Junior Tag category and really enjoyed the Junior TaG machines.

Share this article

Hide Sites

KartMania 09 is the UKs premier kart show and is where all of the karting worlds big players will be showing off their new products ready for the 2010 season.  Also for bargain hunters is the KartBoot.  Listen to the latest Karting1 podcast interview with Martin Capenhurst, the organiser of KartMania to find out why you should go along this year!

Hear from what the following exhibitors are preparing for the show:-

Tal-Ko

Mr Karting

Racing Perfection

Pro Kart Engineering

Dadson

KartMania is held at the Ricoh Arena on 29th and 30th November, go to www.kartmania.co.uk for more details and the list of exhibitors.

Share this article

Hide Sites

Is the SKUSA Supernationals held in Las Vegas the worlds  most spectacular kart race? With some of the worlds best car and kart racers on the entry list it certainly could well be! We got hold of SKUSAs Tom Kutscher to find out more about this simply awesome kart race!

Share this article

Hide Sites

Play the TKM Big Guns Podcast

Have your say in the TKM Forum or comment below!

TKM is going to be a different beast in 2010 with new chassis and tyre regulations so we got hold of major TKM chassis team and chassis manufacturers Jade Karts and JKH to see what they think about the changes. We also chat to drivers Dean Golba who races TKM nationally, as well as Chris Kasch who races at club level to see what their thoughts are. Both of whom are concerned about what the future holds for them.

Dean Golba is concerned in 2010 the TaG BT82

performance may render his current direct drive gear worthless

Share this article

Hide Sites

Last weekend Michael Simspon was crowned ABkC Rotax Senior Max National Championship at the last round of Super 1 held at the PFi Kart Circuit in Lincolnshire. He revealed to Karting1.co.uk what he felt about the weekend It was mega weekend. To win by 1 point, it was the closest finish to a championship this year. Its been a great season, weve worked hard. We havent had as much testing as we would have liked To win it against some major teams is a great result

Michael Simpson is one of the all-time most successful UK Rotax kart drivers

So what does it take to win consistently in the Rotax kart class? Its about getting all the set up right. Not just the chassis, but more importantly the engine and all the ancillaries. Everything has got to be perfect

What does the future hold for Michael Ive always wanted to break into cars. Ive done a little bit in the past, Clio Cup and what not. I now work for Ginetta Sport Cars in Leeds. I think next season I will be mainly concentrating on my work,  and Ive also got a child on the way, so karting commitments will be put on hold for a year or two.  Show a bit of commitment to work and family and see where that takes us

Listen to full Audio Interview where Michael reveals some kart driving secrets that have brought him so much success

Share this article

Hide Sites