Renault Formula A karting latest
Atrocious weather conditions brought the B4 Super One kart championship meeting to an early close at PFI circuit near Newark, Lincolnshire, on Sunday (21st May), but not before reigning Formula A champion Mark Litchfield extended his lead in the Renault backed series.
Litchfield (Ashbourne, Derbyshire) cruised to victory in a wet Final One, and unfazed by the changing weather conditions, was confident of repeating the win in the second final.
But after the circuit became waterlogged following a torrential downpour, officials halted the event in the interests of safety with three races to go – including the second Renault Formula A final.
Competitors were awarded double points for the completed Final One, meaning Litchfield scored a maximum 100 points for the weekend, extending his championship lead.
He said: “Although I got maximum points and it couldn’t be better for the championship, I’m disappointed I didn’t get to race again.”
Championship rival Jason Parrott (Peterborough) finished 3.5 seconds behind Litchfield. He initially struggled with the set up of his kart, allowing Litchfield to open a comfortable lead.
“I would have gone faster in the second final,” said Parrott. “I let some air out of the tyres for the first final. It wasn’t so good to begin with, but it got better and better. I was in sight of Mark and my times were close to his at the end.”
Jamie Croxford (Wotton Fields, Northants) put in another strong performance, winning the first Renault Formula A heat at PFI. He started the final alongside Litchfield on the front row of the grid, but was pipped by Parrott at the start, running in third place to the flag. The result, following on from a strong race at the previous round, consolidated Croxford’s third place position in the championship.
Riki Christodoulou (Sutton Coldfield) was one of the drivers worst affected by the early conclusion of the event. He moved up from 7th on the grid to run in 4th place in the first final, but retired after 10 laps with a mechanical failure – taking no points from the race meeting.
Renault Formula A Championship provisional points:
1st – Mark Litchfield 290pts; 2nd – Jason Parrott 279pts; 3rd – Jamie Croxford 263pts; 4th – Gary Catt 248pts; 5th – Danny Cruttenden 243pts; 6th Chris Rogers 234pts.
