Following last month’s incredible final race weekend in the British E Karting Championship at Nigel Mansell’s Raceway in North Devon, Stroud’s Max Winfield was crowned Southern Cadet Champion with a record amount of 6 podium finishes throughout the year.
The fastest drivers from all around the UK then battled it out at the National Championship Finals at Lewis Hamilton’s Rye House Race circuit in North London, in a series of qualifying heats and finals.
The National Rye House Circuit is a tricky track to master, with super-fast sweeping corners, tight hairpins and technical complexes that are easy to get wrong on this amazing 1.2 km long race track. You need to be 100% focused to drive this exciting circuit.
Max qualified in P3 on Saturday putting in some stunning lap times out of the 40 drivers. Sunday’s race was extremely wet with drivers spinning off the track at 55mph, it was all about who could find the most grip and keep on the black stuff!
Lights out Heat # 1 – starting in P3 on the dirty side of the track Max found himself back in P5 at turn one but soon made-up places finishing in P2.
Heat # 2 – Again Max drove a superb race making up places with some brave overtakes and outbreaking his rivals to Win the heat with a 4 second gap to second place driver.
Final Heat – starting from P3 – A thrilling drive saw wheel-to-wheel racing from all the drivers, Max fighting for the Win eventually crossed the line in P2 just 0.2 seconds behind the winner to become Vice National Champion.
Max’s sponsor Dale Vince CEO of Ecotricity invited him to FGR Football club last weekend where he was presented the Championship Trophies and talked about E-Karting and pushing the boundaries of environmental consciousness in sport.
Max said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has kept believing in me, my friends, family, co-competitors and amazing sponsors, Ecotricity, Motor Sport Mind, Rebound Fitness and support from Westonbirt School. I will now move in to the National Junior E-Karting Series which will be an exciting challenge.’’
To follow Max’s racing career on Instagram @maxwinfieldracing
