Over 6 months in the planning and we sold out in less than 5 hours. 36 teams confirmed. The amount of passion, time & effort that everyone has contributed to the series came out in every single minute on Saturday. Round 1 – March 2017.

The Season opener was sponsored by RONIMX and was filmed for Motors TV (Now Motorsport TV) We will find out in the up and coming weeks when the show will be aired on TV.

Throughout the build-up to the race, it was apparent most teams were going the extra mile this year with their team liveries. Alex Armstrong was the first to post up Pelam Racing’s unveiling and the rest followed…

Team Lambo. Back at the start of 2016, Geoff Lamb offered to put another kart on the grid – a couple of conversations with various Senna Cup drivers we found a couple of guys, Phil Lip and Greg Pawlik.

Not only have the guys brought the paddock closer together by cooking for everyone each round but this year they offered to run last years chassis to another team – Enter SJ Lambo! Team Lambo have no less than three karts on the grid yet will still be one of the first in line to help anyone out. A real asset to RHPK.

Last year Team Amigos won the 2016 Clubman title. The team were promoted this year into Supers for the 2017 Season. An early indication of the team’s pace was revealed in the 2017 Winter Cup as the team was fighting for the lead in some very wet conditions. All eyes were on them this month for favorites at the top.

It was later revealed last month that Amigos would enter a second Kart, we featured an article on the team here… The team consisted of Jack Goldsmith, Oli Wheddon and Amigos Team Captain, Roy Grassie.

Team Karting Magazine had a last minute driver change just before the season started. Luke Cousins joined the team to replace Jack Ransome who had to pull out of the season due to work commitments. Luke Cousins raced in the very first Team Karting Magazine RHPK race last year and is returning to join the team this year for six of the nine rounds. He will be joining Team Captain Matt England and Leigh Babbage.

 

This month the Saturday Sausage fest was sponsored by March Racing & Burton Wags.

Cooked to perfection by Polish Lambo, a new addition of Burgers were added to the menu for all of our teams to enjoy.

 

 

 

Qualifying

Qualifying was incredibly close on a very warm and sunny Saturday afternoon. In fact, one of the closest sessions I’ve think we’ve seen in RHPK for a number of years. Drivers trying find hundredths of a tenth to get themselves up on the top spot. ABA Racing took pole with a time of 41.836. 2016 Championship winners Helicopter Services settle for second place with a 41.846! HRS1 found themselves on the second row of the grid with a time of 41.860. Winter Cup winners RPM Racing 1 & 2 were 6th and 7th place.

Newly promoted Team Amigos qualified a very respectable 5th place in Super. Gforce Racing who returned to the season this year (Their last race with RHPK in 2013) were a little further down than expected – 29th.

In Clubman Polish Lambo took a well deserved Clubman pole with a time of 42.420, KA Racing took the second spot with a time of 42.522, a real turn of pace for the team this year, so early on. March Racing in just their third RHPK Race took an incredible 3rd place. Amigos 2 in their debut race with RHPK took 4th!

Series Sponsors Burton Power Racing struggled in qualifying, 30th place on the grid was the best they could do – The Sister team, Burton Wags out qualifying them.

Race

This month, Motorsport commentator & radio presenter Matt Suckling performed our grid walk and our fantastic race commentary.

The race this month was started off by a very special pace car, Ben Green’s Ginetta GT4 Supercup Car put in a couple of laps before leading the field into the start of the race.

Ben Green has previously raced in RHPK back in 2014 with Super Green Racing – The team was one of the first few teams in Clubman who were promoted mid-season for their very strong pace, in fact, a couple of times we saw the Super Green Kart on the front row of the grid. A fantastic story on how Ben has progressed through the ranks to be driving for Century Motorsport this year.

As the green flag drops ABA Racing hold their lead to a charging Helicopter Services, the start looks clean. Helicopter Services try to challenge ABA Racing after hairpin 2 but run out of room. As the karts come by to complete their first lap of the 2017 Season it’s ABA Racing leading Helicopter Services. RPM Racing 1 making up 3 places on the start. Both Titan Motorsport and Karting Magazine making up places – 6th and 7th.

In Clubman it’s KA Racing out in front with a kart between themselves and Polish Lambo. March Racing are following close behind. A fantastic start for BMH Racing & Lambo Racing who both gained 7 places after the first lap!

Biggest mover on lap 1 is ZJ Racing, gaining 10 places on the first lap to take them to 22nd place. Biggest loser on lap 1 was HRS1 – dropping 30 places!

Lap 2 and its very close at the front, ABA Racing, Helicopter Services, RPM 1 & 2, who previously jumped Custom Rods are all within striking distance of each other. Lap 3 RPM 1 take Helicopter Services for 2nd. Karting Magazine look very strong – currently running in 6th place.

Lap 6 RPM 1 take the lead from ABA Racing, Helicopter Services follow through to second, ABA settling for 3rd. Team JAM drop 5 places, Lambo, March, BMH, JND & SJ Lambo all jump up a place. SJ Lambo in their debut race are looking very strong, currently running in 16th place overall, 7th in Clubman.

Lap 8 ABA Racing drop another place to 4th. KA Racing still leading clubman. Lap 10, JND Racing gain two places over BMH & March Racing for clubman 4th spot.

Lap 18, Disaster for Team Karting Magazine who had to pit as Matt English could not go on any further due to a back injury (Not karting related!) Amigos also had problems, bending a track rod due to an incident on the track, losing them 12 laps early into the race which took them out of contention – Such a shame for the team given their strong pace throughout the day. Sister team, Amigos 2 had a troublesome race including losing a transponder which put an end to their race.

Lap 22 a change for the clubman lead, Polish Lambo overtake KA Racing and are leading the clubman pack. A great battle between the two teams has them swapping positions for the next couple of laps.

Disaster for SJ Lambo as their track rod breaks, they were running 5th in class. They go on to push back through the field to take 9th in class. HRS1 retires after just 60 laps, the sister kart, HRS2 will later retire on lap 111 – a disaster for both teams given their very strong pace throughout the morning.

Burton Power Racing are pushing through the field, by lap 70 they are 14th. JRH Racing have an issue with a sticky throttle and pit early to try to repair. They drop down to 19th. APL Racing are doing well to come up through the field, by lap 80 the team are in 9th place in class.  Unfortunately they later suffer an engine failure which drops them down to 26th place.

As the clock ticks over into the last hour, Custom Rods are chasing down ABA for 3rd place. ABA look to be struggling for grip and have to concede to Custom Rods who take 3rd. The battle for the lead between RPM1 & Helicopter is less than 10 seconds towards the end of the race. In the final stages all eyes are on JRH who are closing down on Team JAM for 7th place. As the chequered flag drops there is less than half a second between them – Team JAM doing just enough to stay in front!

The win goes to RPM1, Helicopter Services, who were unable to chase down RPM1 at the end settle with second, Custom Rods in third piping ABA near the end. Pole sitters ABA Racing take fourth and the second of the RPM teams, RPM2 take the last spot on the podium.

Newer comers, March Racing take the win over JND Racing in second place. Mike and the rest of the March team overjoyed in their 3rd race with RHPK. Polish Lambo take third spot – the team were certain for a win, unfortunately having to make an additional, unplanned stop. There is no denying Polish Lambo’s pace this round who looked favorite for the top spot. Despite their disappointing qualifying position Burton Power take 4th place in class and JAB Racing taking the last spot on the podium, 5th.

Despite the progress of ZJ Racing last year, the team were a little further down the field than expected this race, no doubt they will return stronger. Gforce Racing returned this year, the team were plagued with issues, later having to retire.

 

Round 1 - March 2017 Qualifying

Pos	Kart	Team	Laps	Best	On	MPH
1	3	ABA Racing (SP)	25	41.836	22	50.798
2	1	Helicopter Services (SP)	28	41.846	23	50.786
3	14	HRS 1 (SP)	30	41.86	26	50.769
4	2	Custom Rods (SP)	35	41.894	32	50.728
5	22	Amigos (SP)	34	41.895	14	50.727
6	17	RPM 1 (SP)	22	42.021	22	50.574
7	18	RPM 2 (SP)	30	42.153	24	50.416
8	10	Karting Magazine (SP)	29	42.258	15	50.291
9	19	Titan Motorsport (SP)	21	42.267	10	50.28
10	4	JRH Racing (SP)	33	42.365	14	50.164
11	6	Focus Racing (SP)	30	42.382	28	50.144
12	24	Spectre Racing (SP)	17	42.398	14	50.125
13	32	Polish Lambo (C)	39	42.42	37	50.099
14	36	KA Racing (C)	25	42.522	23	49.979
15	53	March Racing (C)	14	42.549	10	49.947
16	59	Amigos 2 (C)	26	42.573	20	49.919
17	56	APL Racing (C)	28	42.597	28	49.891
18	7	Team JAM (SP)	35	42.6	12	49.887
19	30	JAB Racing (C)	38	42.681	9	49.792
20	42	Team Eyrie Also (C)	28	42.689	11	49.783
21	55	JND Racing (C)	37	42.694	28	49.777
22	54	Burton Power WAGS (C)	34	42.707	14	49.762
23	40	BMH (C)	29	42.723	28	49.743
24	8	Lambo Racing (SP)	25	42.779	20	49.678
25	39	Neptune Motorsport (C)	37	42.815	24	49.637
26	57	SJ Lambo (C)	35	42.862	34	49.582
27	58	HRS 2 (C)	18	43.125	8	49.28
28	41	Artifex (C)	18	43.238	14	49.151
29	23	Gforce Racing (SP)	37	43.24	13	49.149
30	31	Burton Power Racing (C)	7	43.361	6	49.012
31	35	Team CET (C)	11	43.39	11	48.979
32	34	NMA Racing (C)	18	43.461	15	48.899
33	33	Silverline Racing (C)	28	43.499	11	48.856
34	38	ZJ Racing (C)	36	43.614	15	48.727
35	37	Pelam Racing (C)	27	43.662	25	48.674
36	43	Evolution (C)	7	44.49	6	47.768

Round 1 - March 2017 Race

Pos	Kart	Team	Class	Laps	Behind	Best
1	17	RPM 1	Super	337		41.872
2	1	Helicopter Services	Super	337	9.866	41.766
3	2	Custom Rods	Super	335	2 Laps	41.866
4	3	ABA Racing	Super	335	2 Laps	41.9
5	18	RPM 2	Super	335	2 Laps	41.928
6	19	Titan Motorsport	Super	333	4 Laps	42.106
7	7	Team JAM	Super	331	6 Laps	42.429
8	4	JRH Racing	Super	331	6 Laps	42.206
9	8	Lambo Racing	Super	330	7 Laps	42.334
10	53	March Racing	Clubman	330	7 Laps	42.53
11	55	JND Racing	Clubman	330	7 Laps	42.42
12	32	Polish Lambo	Clubman	329	8 Laps	42.282
13	31	Burton Power Racing	Clubman	329	8 Laps	42.492
14	30	JAB Racing	Clubman	328	9 Laps	42.451
15	24	Spectre Racing	Super	327	10 Laps	42.292
16	42	Team Eyrie Also	Clubman	327	10 Laps	42.739
17	41	Artifex	Clubman	326	11 Laps	42.747
18	36	KA Racing	Clubman	325	12 Laps	42.396
19	40	BMH	Clubman	325	12 Laps	42.566
20	54	Burton Power WAGS	Clubman	325	12 Laps	42.479
21	10	Karting Magazine	Super	322	15 Laps	42.265
22	37	Pelam Racing	Clubman	322	15 Laps	43.315
23	35	Team CET	Clubman	322	15 Laps	43.041
24	57	SJ Lambo	Clubman	322	15 Laps	42.487
25	34	NMA Racing	Clubman	321	16 Laps	43.042
26	56	APL Racing	Clubman	320	17 Laps	42.492
27	33	Silverline Racing	Clubman	320	17 Laps	43.214
28	22	Amigos	Super	304	33 Laps	41.923
29	38	ZJ Racing	Clubman	296	41 Laps	43.041
30	43	Evolution	Clubman	290	47 Laps	42.893
31	6	Focus Racing	Super	275	62 Laps	42.351
32	59	Amigos 2	Clubman	235	102 Laps	42.312
33	23	Gforce Racing	Super	223	114 Laps	42.96
34	39	Neptune Motorsport	Clubman	156	181 Laps	42.953
35	58	HRS 2	Clubman	111	226 Laps	43.072
36	14	HRS 1	Super	60	277 Laps	41.814

 

  Alpha Timing Results