The Clay Pigeon circuit near Dorchester will be forever linked with the early career of Jenson Button. Once again, the fabulous Dorset venue provided the backdrop for some genuinely thrilling racing, and perhaps, just as his fellow competitors and the spectators in the 80s and 90s did, we may be watching the emergence of a future superstar.

William Stowell led the entire Cadet final until, just two corners from the chequered flag, Ronan McKenzie nipped through at the Horseshoe to take a superb last-gasp victory. Stowell’s runner-up finish added to his earlier pre-final victory re-ignited his championship chances, while Tom Thickpenny’s 3rd place maintained his overall championship lead.

Thomas Grainger took a lights-to-flag triumph in the Junior encounter from the in-form Luca Hirst, who chased him like a fit store detective throughout. James DeHavillande claimed a superb 3rd place – having come from the back of the grid in the pre-final.

According to Meatloaf, Two out of three ain’t bad. Light A winner James Lay would agree after holding off Mark Elder to equal his opening round victory. Sam Dimelow collected his first trophy of the season with 3rd. This race was remarkable for its drama and displays of remarkable grit and determination. Owen Jenman claimed 4th after starting last.

A small grid composed the Light B final, but it belonged to just one man, Richard Moxom – who was the class of the field and crossed the line 17 seconds clear of Richard Washbrook. The cameras from the BBC’s See Hear programme focused on newcomer James Clark’s fortunes.

Fastest lap and maximum points here, maximum points at Teesside, maximum points at Ellough – come on Heavyweights, sort it out! urged the commentator after Barnaby Pittingale steamrollered the Heavy opposition to score his third straight win. Adrian Ricardo-Batty and Gary Poynter gave it their all but ultimately had no answer for the man the Italians call, Il Dominator.

Easykart packs its bags and heads to Teesside for one of the most popular races on the calendar. Featuring a combination of fast straights, tight corners and two, enormous-radius bends (one of which is semi-banked) it is reminiscent of the Shanghai GP circuit and last year produced great racing and physically punished those who weren’t in tip-top shape. After a thrilling season opener at Ellough last month, the second round, combined with the nature of Teesside provides us with a mouth-watering prospect…

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This weekend (27-28 March) sees the opening round of the Easykart season kick off at Ellough Park Raceway, a cracking little gem of a circuit that has been refreshed, rejuvenated and redeveloped by the indefatigable Richard Lock and his team, and proudly hosts the first visit of a national championship of 2010.

On paper, this year promises to be one of the most open and competitive seasons yet. None of the current champions will defend their crowns, making way for a host of new hopefuls to rise up and make their mark. Reigning Light champion Terry Langley is taking a sabbatical from racing, but will be a regular presence in the paddock as he turns his attentions to driver coaching. The Heavy class’s number one hinted that he might abandon his crown when he finished third in last November’s E Plate meeting at Clay Pigeon, and indeed Kieran McCullough has confirmed his switch to the Light category.

Similarly, Junior champion Patrick Lay will come of age in both senses of the word when he makes his Light debut on Sunday. After steamrollering the Cadet opposition, James DeHavillande will test himself against the Junior regulars and a welter of newcomers.

After its successful inauguration into the calendar last summer, the Cadet class has quickly established itself as an exciting alternative to other classes for 8 to 13-year olds. The championship organisers Club100 have received more than double the number of entries for the corresponding first round fixture last year. As its Managing Director, John Vigor says: “It’s going to be great. Ellough is a superb place to go racing and I’m delighted that Easykart will be the first national series to christen the new track extension. With every one of our 2009 champions moving on, we’re guaranteed to see new race-winners and champions emerge and that can only be good.”

In total over 120 drivers have entered and both senior classes will require B finals. John comments: “We’ve had a very healthy influx of new competitors come into Easykart and I’m really pleased to see that they’re all new to karting – not just guys transferring from other categories or championships. That means our package is really attractive to the sport’s newcomers. But that’s not to say we don’t listen to our existing customers. This year we’ve introduced a new format to the racing, based on what the drivers wanted.”

The new schedule will now see one timed qualifying session, with a (ten minute-plus one lap) heat replacing the old second session. Following the European model, the event will then consist of a repecharge and two finals, pre and main.

If you’re looking for a fast, friendly series where the emphasis is on driver ability rather than budget, then you’ll love Easykart. Sunday’s meeting is a great way to meet the drivers and receive advice from them and get information from the UK Easykart importer, Andy Cox of ACR and series promoter, Club100’s John Vigor. The action starts from 10:00am on Sunday at Ellough Park Raceway, near Beccles.

The inaugural Easykart Open Championship - or ‘E Plate’ as it has been christened - takes place at the superb Clay Pigeon Raceway this Sunday (15 November). This new addition to the domestic Easykart series is a direct response to a campaign calling for a classic, winner-takes-all format race. Series promoter John Vigor says, “We have quite a lively discussion board on www.easykart.co.uk and we had a great many notices from our competitors on there, asking for such an event. As the season progressed, more and more drivers wanted an extra race in the calendar and we’ve responded to those calls.” Easykart importer, Andy Cox of ACR adds, “We’ve had an encouraging entry, especially when you consider the E Plate is taking place so late in the racing year and no-one knows what to expect really. It’s a quality field in each of the classes (Cadet, Junior and the two Senior classes – Heavy and Light) and Clay always produces exciting racing.”

After strong showings at last month’s Easykart World Finals in Italy and a hugely successful domestic season, sales of Easykarts continue to be strong. Andy comments, “In the past few weeks we’ve sold over thirty karts. This is testimony to the fact that we have an excellent product and increasingly popular championship. Easykart offers exceptional value-for-money and great racing. On top of that, the standard of driving is excellent – whether you’re an experienced driver at national level, or a relative beginner – so there’s almost no crashing and bashing and the camaraderie in the paddock is exceptional. There’s nothing else like it.” In Cadets, regular front-runners Ronan Mackenzie and Will Stowell are favourites to make the running, although Jordan Sanders shouldn’t be ruled out of giving them a run for their money.

An impressive Junior entry will certainly produce some fabulous action on the historic Dorset circuit. This summer’s winner and runner-up in the championship, Patrick Lay and Brad Fairhurst will resume their season-long battle, whilst a string of drivers, including Christopher Waldock, Thomas Grainger, Tiernay Oliver, Jack Mitchell and more, will be determined to knock the former pair off their perch.

A mouthwatering prospect awaits spectators of the Senior classes. Former World Finals winner and UK champion, Barnaby Pittingale will be hard pressed in Heavy by William Smith, Tim Hill and Mark Lawrence, to name but a few. Hill ended the championship as one of, if not the most-improved driver and is due a big win. Pittingale is always fast around Clay, as is Smith – so expect a battle royal between them. Edinburgh restaurateur, Lawrence will be looking to cook up a result that equals his 2008 Winter Series victory. With champion Terry Langley absent, the quality of the Light category is in no way diminished. The newly-crowned Heavy champion, Kieran McCullough has fulfilled his promise to switch category and will make his Light debut this weekend. Fast and fired-up he will certainly be but can the ebullient Londoner match the pace of Owen Jenman, Adrian Crockett and Jack Sales? Over a season, perhaps but in one day, probably not.

But that’s what makes the very first E Plate such an exciting prospect, with the return of former stars such as Jamie Jakins, class debuts (Cadet champ James DeHavilland steps up to Juniors) and switches, we are set for an historic and entertaining weekend.

If you’re considering making the swap from your current category or starting kart racing, Sunday’s event is a great way to meet the drivers and talk to them about what they enjoy about Easykart and get advice and information from the UK importer, Andy Cox and series promoter, John Vigor. The action starts from 10am at Clay Pigeon Raceway, Wardon Hill, between Dorchester and Yeovil.

It would never work in England. A horse race in the centre of town. Admittedly, Liverpool comes close, with Aintree racecourse looking like it sits slap-bang in a Scouse housing estate - but you couldn’t imagine running a bunch of thoroughbreds round Trafalgar Square.

And yet every year Siena stages its ancient, bi-annual palio – a bareback horse race that dates back to the Middle Ages. The city’s seventeen districts - or contrade - are represented in the race by the horses and compete for nothing more than honour and a silk palio.

It is fitting that the historic Tuscan city has been chosen to host this year’s Easykart World Finals. The pageantry will be of a decidedly 21st Century nature, and the contrade will give way to fifteen nations, but this weekend’s event at the Circuito di Siena will surely produce passion and emotions equal to the palio’s ancient rivalries.

By virtue of being the fastest-growing Easykart franchise in the World, the UK has been granted the opportunity to field its largest squad yet. Twenty drivers, five from each category (Cadet, Junior, Light and Heavy), will make the trip to the technical and demanding track at Castelnuovo Berardenga.

For the past two years, British drivers have performed well in the annual highlight of the Easykart calendar. In 2007, Barnaby Pittingale won the Heavy crown and was a trophy winner at last year’s race. Fellow seniors Terry Langley (Light) and Will Smith (Heavy) also returned home with cups, as did Jack Sales who returns to Italy this year as a senior.

Looking forward to the action Easykart UK promoter John Vigor said “This year we’re stronger, particularly in the senior classes. Barnaby knows how to win a World Final and several of the boys who competed last year will know what to expect and be even better prepared as a consequence.”

He added, “The Juniors will also be stronger after two seasons. (2009 champion) Patrick Lay has a very good chance, as has (runner-up) Brad Fairhurst. Both will be more experienced, confident and hungry to perform well at the highest level”.

Vigor sounded a note of caution over the Cadets’ chances, as this will be the inaugural year that British drivers in this class have taken part in the World Finals. He said “It’ll be really tough for them. It’s extremely competitive and is a very big grid. James DeHavillande and Will Stowell (first and second in this year’s UK championship) will have a great time and give a good account of themselves, as will all of our guys but I do think the Cadets face the steepest learning curve.”

Easykart UK’s runners and riders are:

Cadet
James DeHavillande
William Stowell
Ronan McKenzie
Jordan Sanders
Josh Grimston

Junior
Patrick Lay
Brad Fairhurst
Christopher Waldock
Thomas Grainger
Tiernay Oliver

Light
Terry Langley
Owen Jenman
Ben King
Adrian Crockett
Jack Sales

Heavy
Kieran McCullough
Barnaby Pittingale
William Smith
Tim Hill
Mark Lawrence