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Strawberry’s Ben Cooper scored sensational back-to-back victories at last Sunday’s (10 May) second round of the MSA British Super 1 Championship, whilst team-mate Luke Wright took his maiden KF1 podium. In the KF2 class Chris Lock had a tougher time, but showed the character that made him European Rotax Champion last year – a consistent performance saw him maintain his title aspirations.

Having qualified on the first and second rows of the grid for the first KF1 final, Luke and Ben had clearly demonstrated that they are getting to grips with the premier class. Unfortunately, as the field cannoned into the first corner Wright was shepherded off the circuit. He rejoined well down but immediately began a spirited drive back up the order.

Surviving the opening lap dramas, Cooper initially slotted into third place but within rapid succession moved into second and then the lead. However, he came under sustained pressure in a thrilling race that saw him battling with three other drivers. Having dropped to second, Ben made his decisive move three laps from home and held the advantage to the chequered flag.
Luke finished in a creditable ninth position, but was to go six better in the following final.

Reigning World Rotax Champion, Ben led the quality-packed grid into the fast left/right/left complex just after the start and was hounded by a gaggle of thirteen chasing karts.
As in the first race, he relinquished the lead but was never far from it in the following twenty four laps. The race-long, fight for victory was only settled when Ben delivered his race-winning move on the last lap, while Luke doggedly held onto his excellent third spot.

Team boss Paul Spencer couldn’t contain his delight and hugged his young charges, saying “That was brilliant, I’m very, very happy.”

The team’s soul representative in KF2, Chris was never out of the top seven throughout timed qualifying and the heats. In the first final, he fought hard for his seventh place, but all his efforts were undone in an incident-filled return encounter. A coming together forced him down the order and ultimately left him in a lonely thirteenth.

All three drivers are now preparing to join their Tony Kart Junior Race Team colleagues at next week’s CIK Asia-Pacific Championship (21-24 May), to be held at Suzuka, in Japan.

Photo by Chris Walker