Curtain comes down on the racing season

After eight months and sixty two races over fifteen race meetings across four different race circuits for three championships and three single day plate meetings the 2013 Northern Ireland Karting summer season has drawn to a close.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Nov 2013, 13:50 BST
Daniel Harper in action.Daniel Harper in action.
Daniel Harper in action.

In the Northern Ireland Championship the Honda Cadet class went right down to the wire with Coleraine’s Sam McDonnell narrowly missing out on the number one plate by ten points in a championship only decided in the last final of the year. He did however win the Ulster Championship, The Coleraine and District Motor Club Championship, The Irish Karting Grand Prix, The Ulster Cup, The North West plate meeting and the Tullyallen Championship. This is quite an unprecedented run of results in his first full season of racing with the CDMC ‘Young Guns’ race team.

Another local lad Dean Gray from Ballymoney has a mixed season in the Senior Max class with some great results followed by some bad luck blighting his championships, he did however finish third in the Coleraine Club’s Championship before a high speed crash at Bishopscourt a week later ended his season early. Dougie Reid took the main honours throughout the year and this class is starting to have a revival with Portglenone’s Michael Smith making a return at the end of the season before taking in the full Championship in 2014.

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Dunloy’s Se Og Martin had some good results in the Parilla Cadet class and took second in the NI and Ulster Championships which will give him confidence for the 2014 season. Ringsend driver Conor McKeown competed in the Motorsport Ireland Championship in the Junior max class and achieved some solid results despite a hand injury hampering his season he has learned the tracks ready for a challenge next year,

Young chargers TJ McDonnell and Melinda Tosh are almost ready to gain their full race licences and intend to compete in the full Northern Ireland Championship in 2014 with Melinda’s big brother Stephen taking in selected events. Another local driver hoping to make his debut in the sport in 2014 is Sam Adams who is showing some good pace at recent testing sessions.

Action continues over the winter months with the NI Winter championship commencing on 9th November with two rounds at Kirkistown and two at Nutts Corner the second of which in February is jointly promoted by the Coleraine and District Motor Club - Kart Section and the Ulster Karting Club.

The local Karting scene is in great shape for 2014 and credit must be given to the hard work of the Coleraine and District Motor Club’s Kart section coaching and developing some local talent to the very top of their game and introducing new talent to the sport. If you are interested in getting involved in this exciting sport as a driver or helping at events CDMC Karting can be contacted on 07718876385.

Related topics:ColeraineHonda