The plaudits rained down on Robert Foster-Jones after he snatched the British Super 1 championship in a sensational showdown at Fulbeck in Lincolnshire, last Sunday (18 October). Knowing beforehand that nothing less than victory would suffice if he was to stand a chance of winning the title, the Ricky Flynn Motorsport driver produced a scintillating performance in the first final to blow things wide open.

From pole position, Foster-Jones got a clean getaway, with his title-rival, Ben Cooper, slotting into second place. At this point, a second-place would have been sufficient to give Cooper the championship and inspired a brave piece of quick-thinking from Robert. He slowed down, to back the pair into the clutches of the chasing pack. With several drivers sensing that they too could improve their championship positions, Cooper came under attack, and in some superb racing began to drop down the order, leaving Foster-Jones to consolidate his lead and ultimately take the chequered flag with Cooper crossing the line in fifth.

The gathering twilight produced anxiety in the RFM awning prior to the second final. Delays in the programme meant that it was running late and there were several calls for the title-deciding race to be cancelled. Had this happened, Cooper would have been crowned as champion. However, with minutes to spare the karts rocketed out onto the circuit and the paddock emptied, as drivers, mechanics and spectators thronged the grandstands - unaware that they were about to watch one of the most exciting races in the history of the sport.

From the start, Cooper literally attacked and forced his way past several drivers, including Foster-Jones who was pushed off the circuit and fell to the rear of the field. By the time Robert had clawed his way into second position, Cooper had opened a sizeable lead. So big in fact, many thought it insurmountable. Not so, to Robert…

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Robert Foster-Jones was in unbeatable form in last weekend’s [12/13 September] penultimate round of the British Super 1 Championship and has set up a thrilling title-decider. The RFM driver was in electrifying form from the outset. Carrying his superior pace in practice into timed qualifying round the tight, and relatively short, Larkhall circuit in Lanarkshire.

From pole position, he then took a brace of dominant heat wins to ensure that he would start the first of Sunday’s two-points scoring finals with an open track ahead of him. In the pre-final he made good his advantage as the tightly bunched pack jostled and jockeyed for position going into the tight first corner. From there, he set about building a gap and having gained over a half a second advantage over his nearest pursuer was able to take another comfortable win.

Having taken such a strong victory, Robert attracted the praise of Mercedes-backed German Touring Car [DTM] ace, Paul di Resta. “Paul had dropped in to watch the racing with his dad [Louis]. They both came over and congratulated me on my performance and offered to give me some help with my future career, which was generous of them.”

Foster-Jones knew that he could blow the championship wide open if he won again and indeed, once he had successfully dealt with the opening lap challenges, powered to his third triumph of the season. “I’ve closed the gap down to eleven points now, and with that sort of form I think I have a great chance of taking it to the wire. It’s going to be very interesting and the title is definitely a possibility, but I’m one of four drivers who could now win.”

The conclusion of this fascinating championship will take place at Fulbeck in Lincolnshire on 17/18 October.

Robert Foster-Jones scored a surprise but thoroughly-deserved last gasp Super KF victory in the final round of the European Kart Championship yesterday (2 August), at Essay in northern France. After three blown engines had earlier compounded his woes and did much to sum up his season’s fortunes, the Ricky Flynn Motorsport driver lined up on the grid for the final race of the European Championship, almost in last place. But despite his mathematical chances of winning the overall title being over, Rob dug deep to produce, possibly, the performance of his career. “I had nothing left to race for, other than my pride,” he said modestly afterwards. Starting from nineteenth position he passed seven karts in the first corner. He then deposed two further drivers to complete the opening in lap in ninth place. Foster-Jones climbed steadily up the order to eventually find himself in second place and catching the leader, ‘Flying Finn’ Aaro Vainio. On the last lap, the pair was nose to tail. Vainio, going for the race win and the overall championship victory tried to defend from the advancing Englishman. Arguably the best driver in the world using the front brakes, Robert waited until the penultimate corner to out-brake his rival. Knowing that a crash could cost him the title, Vainio defended his line but made sure that should an attack come, he wouldn’t risk a collision. Seeing his chance, Robert needed no further asking and scythed down the inside to snatch the lead. Vainio tried to re-pass but Foster-Jones held his line and nerve to score a deserved and sensational victory.

“Fantastic!” was how he described the race and his return to the international podium. “I got what I deserved. I’ve had a lot of bad luck all year with engine failures and other issues that have been beyond my control. Every time something like that happens you just have to pick yourself up, move on and try harder. I and the team have done that all season and we’ve earned this victory. To win from pretty much last place is just fantastic.” His team boss, Ricky Flynn was quick to praise his talented young star, saying “He drove exceptionally well. He delivered the drive of his life. From the start all the way to the chequered flag, he didn’t put a foot wrong. Everyone knows he’s good and this [result] proves it.” Robert’s triumph saw him finish in fifth place overall in the European Championship standings and he and his RFM team believe it will be the spur to go on and compete for the British Super 1 and World Championship titles.

“We’ve turned a corner. Robert has trained harder and is now physically stronger and mentally tougher than at any time in his career before. We’ve also changed things to help him and we’re back to winning ways. We’re back on victory road,” Flynn said with notable conviction. As his prize for winning the Bridgestone Cup in Italy last October, Rob is flying out to the Hockenheim circuit in Germany to test a Formula BMW racing car later this week.

Robert Foster-Jones signed-off his KF2 career with another sparkling performance last weekend – appropriately at Vendrell, in the heart of Spain’s Cava producing region in the annual Copa Campeones (Champions Cup). The RFM driver was competing in his final race in karting’s equivalent of GP2 before moving up to the KF1 class - and once again demonstrated why he’s regarded as one of the world’s best up-and-coming talents. 6th fastest in timed qualifying, Robert duly claimed pole position for the first of the day’s two finals with a win and second place in his two heats. Right from the start, he took control of the pre-final and romped to victory. This ensured that he would again start from P1 on the grid for the main final. Rob again got a perfect start and led for the first eight laps. However, where he’d been in imperious form in the pre-final, he now appeared to struggle for outright pace. “I’d been so in control of the first final that after I’d won, the team didn’t change any of the settings on my kart. There didn’t seem any need to. All we did was put a new set of tyres on the kart and I went three tenths slower!” Robert found himself under pressure from two Frenchmen - and team-mates - Brandon Maisano and Norman Nato. The pair worked together to pass him and were able to open a small gap over him. “Once they were past, Maisano and Nato worked together and drove well, but I’m delighted to finish my KF2 career with another podium (his 15th of the season).” Robert will now embark on an intensive programme of fitness training and testing, in readiness for his graduation to the KF1 class. He said, “With each race, I’m improving. I’ve already competed in one KF1 race (the Asia-Pacific Championship at Macau last month) and whilst there’s still a lot to learn, there’s no-one I fear. I expect to be challenging for wins.”

The CIK Asia-Pacific Championship has established itself as the season-closing event for the premier class and draws an entry composed of European professionals and Asia’s most talented drivers.

Foster-Jones has enjoyed an unprecedentedly successful 2008, but faced a stern challenge from the older, professional drivers, super-sticky special tyres and an unfamiliar track.

“Considering I’d never been on specials before, things started okay. I was fairly fast and we tried different settings and I was improving but then the carb’ went down. I missed a couple of sessions and that hampered me in finding the optimum set-up for qualifying,” Rob explained.

After qualifying in 14th place, the double British KF2 Champion made a strong impression with a drive to 8th in the first heat, but a DNF in the second race meant he would start the pre-final from 17th on the grid.

Displaying his customary “fire and heart”, Robert rose up the order and was lying in 6th place when his engine seized. Again, he would start near the back of the grid - but despite having nine rows of karts ahead of him, Rob remained unfazed.

As soon as the lights went to green, he began carving his way up the order. Showing both raw, natural speed and intelligent race-craft he worked his way into the top ten.

A superb move on Armand Convers drew particular praise. Robert followed the French ace into a corner, feinted a move down his inside and as Convers went to block, he moved to the outside line before cutting back in. With his rival off the optimum line, Foster-Jones got the better exit and smoothly took the place. Only the chequered flag prevented further progress, but Robert was understandably pleased with his performance.

“It was a fantastic race and to finish 6th on my debut - and at this level - is very promising. My times were similar to the front-runners (in fact his best time was just one tenth of a second off the race’s fastest lap) and I feel that I’m improving all the time.”

His team boss, Ricky Flynn was also delighted with his driver’s performance, “I said before the weekend that if he could finish inside the top six, I’d be happy. To think that he came from the back of the grid to do that just shows his ability. If his engine hadn’t broken in the pre-final, then he would have started the main final from about 6th place and I think he could’ve sneaked a podium. But it’s all very positive, he’s shown that he can compete at the highest level.”

Robert’s next race is this weekend’s (6/7 December) Copa Campeones at Vendrell, Spain and will be his farewell race in the KF2 class before he switches to KF1 full-time next season -“I’m looking forward to it and putting into practice everything I’ve learned from the weekend. It’s my last ever race in KF2 and I want to end that part of my career on a high.”