Jordie Ford Wins British Superkart GP
| 7 June 2016 |
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Australian Superkart racer Jordan Ford has won the 2016 British Superkart Grand Prix for 250 Nationals!
Jordie and his Melbourne-based team headed to the UK last week and got their hands on a new Anderson/DEA Superkart (see previous article HERE).
Above: Jordie Ford, top step of the podium at Donnington
pic - Scott Williams/Facebook
After setting fastest time for the single-cylinder machines in practice, Jordie then planted himself on pole for his class (1:31.617s), and an amazing 11th outright in a field largely made up of twins. Ford's closest challengers were the experienced Brits, Paul Platt (MS Kart/GasGas - 1:32.200s) and Gavin Bennett (Anderson/DEA - 1:32.276s).
If that effort wasn't enough, Ford then went out and won Race 1 (a race-within-a-race for the Singles amongst the 'open' class twins), over Bennett and Platt, taking 10th outright. Adam Kout took outright victory (see CIK-FIA report further down the page).
Above: It helps when you've got the good stickers on the side of your rig, hey Jordie?
Race 2 (round 4 of the European Championship) didn't go to plan, Jordie DNFing after a carburettor clamp failed. Bennett took the win, though Jordie did get back out on track for some quick laps at the end.
Having qualified pole, Ford lead the field to the start of the 10-lap British GP, dicing with Bennett for the win and setting a new lap record for the category on the way. He won by 1.6s over Bennett with Jack Layton in third making a 1-2-3 for Anderson/DEA karts.
"I had amazing races with Gavin Bennett today, so clean and respectful yet hard fought. Some of the best racing I will ever remember" Jordie wrote on Facebook.
"As a team, we learnt so much this weekend, working on the kart with minuscule changes with huge impact, and I was able to adjust my driving and gain more and more confidence all weekend. Driving with downforce properly is hectic!
"Thank you so much to all the sponsors, Dunlop Kartsport, Burbank Homes, Robot Technogies Australia, C4 Oils, Peter Ford Catering and Sunbury Collision Centre and a list of so many. On top of that there has been so many people to thank who have taught me everything I know. Beyond my parents who have taught me so much, there's the Iikes of Robbie Morton, Peter Woodgate, Les Burdett, Gary Pegarero and many more. Thank you so much.
"The biggest thank you is for Scott Williams. He has invested so much effort, money and time into these past few months to get us all to the UK, and I'm glad I could get this win for him in the greatest Superkart Race in the World. Dale Williams is hot property now as a mechanic! Has worked on numerous karts and taken them to numerous titles and now even internationally!"
- "Historic Victory in single for the Australian Jordan Ford. He has managed to defeat the two best drivers of (the) category at home" - translation from the French mediasuperkart site.
pic - Ford/Facebook
Above: CIK-FIA European Championship standings after round 2 of 3. The final round is at Assen, Netherlands, on August 4-7.
Above: Single-Cylinder Cup points
CIK-FIA report of Donnington
The second Competition of the 2016 CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship took place under very mild conditions in an atmosphere dedicated to Karting. The British single-cylinder and KZ long-circuit categories shared the programme and pits with the Superkarts, with several Drivers jointly participating in two events. Lédenon was dominated by a trio while at Donington Park the circle of contenders for the podium widened to five.
Qualifying Practice was decided in the fastest first session. The Briton Liam Morley (Anderson / DEA) confirmed the impressions from Free Practice as the fastest ahead of the defending champion, the Czech Adam Kout (MS Kart / DEA) who he surpassed by two-tenths in the final moments (1'27 '' 522). The new contender, Yannick De Brabander (MS Kart / VM) was too optimistic on his first flying lap. The surprise came with the 3rd provisional time for Dan Clark (Anderson / VM). The second session allowed the the three protagonists of Lédenon (Elkmann / Kout / De Brabander) a chance to catch up, but this was not enough for the Belgian who couldn't move up further than the the 3rd row. Overall the Dutchman Marcel Maasmann (Anderson / VM) moved up behind Clark. Peter Elkmann (MS Kart / VM) improved after a shortened first session and clinched the 3rd fastest time.
The first race was very animated and as tight as could be expected. Elkmann had the best start from Kout, and De Brabander slipped past Clark, who Morley had overtaken. The five Drivers would stay in touch. A little further back, Maasmann and Vesa Lehtinen (Anderson / VM) were running together. Jason Dredge (Anderson / PVP) experienced engine trouble and a rare retirement. Clark took 3rd, and on the fourth lap Morley accelerated and overtook De Brabander. The surprising Clark passed Kout. At halfway, the fluctuating gaps tightened further and Kout quickly overtook Clark and Elkmann to take the lead. Clark gradually gave up ground, with a worn disc, and De Brabander followed by two seconds. Further back Maasmann resisted Lehtinen before the finish. Morley, the fastest on the track, overtook Elkmann and gradually exerted pressure on the leader. But the podium was frozen. Indeed, his exhaust broke on the last lap, and Morley had to be content with second place in the bumper of Kout.
Race 1:
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Equipment | Gap | Best Lap | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kout, Adam | MS Kart / DEA | 01:27.9 | 25 | |
| 2 | 3 | Morley, Liam | Anderson / DEA | 0.81 | 01:27.7 | 20 |
| 3 | 2 | Elkmann, Peter | MS Kart / VM | 2.104 | 01:28.1 | 16 |
| 4 | 27 | Clark, Daniel | Anderson / VM | 7.003 | 01:27.9 | 13 |
| 5 | 20 | De Brabander, Yannick | MS Kart / VM | 9.275 | 01:28.6 | 11 |
| 6 | 4 | Maasmann, Marcel | Anderson / VM | 21.496 | 01:29.4 | 10 |
| 7 | 9 | Lehtinen, Vesa | Anderson / VM | 26.812 | 01:29.8 | 9 |
| 8 | 38 | Westerdijk, Laurens | MS Kart / VM | 43.899 | 01:30.5 | 8 |
| 9 | 16 | Harvey, David | Anderson / VM | 50.544 | 01:31.7 | 7 |
| 10 | 198 | Ford, Jordan | Anderson / DEA | 50.754 | 01:31.2 | 6 |
| 11 | 107 | Bennett, Gavin | Anderson / DEA | 51.738 | 01:31.1 | 5 |
| 12 | 17 | Malm, Stefan | PVP / PVP | 54.108 | 01:31.7 | 4 |
| 13 | 37 | Van Dijk, Recardo | MS Kart / VM | 58.645 | 01:32.1 | 3 |
| 14 | 111 | Platt, Paul | MS Kart / Gas Gas | 01:04.7 | 01:32.5 | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | Verhaar, Mark | MS Kart / VM | 01:20.9 | 01:33.3 | 1 |
| 16 | 87 | Kurstjens, Léo | MS Kart / VM | 1 Lap | 01:31.1 | 0 |
| 17 | 171 | Kennedy, Donald | Anderson / THR | 1 Lap | 01:36.3 | 0 |
| 18 | 121 | Weston, Barry | Anderson / DEA | 1 Lap | 01:35.8 | 0 |
| 19 | 41 | Rushforth, Simon | Spyda / FPE | 1 Lap | 01:35.3 | 0 |
| 20 | 110 | Hulme, Carl | Anderson / THR | 2 Laps | 01:35.8 | 0 |
| 21 | 70 | Hempshall, Victor | PVP / FPE | 8 Laps | 01:36.0 | 0 |
| 22 | 8 | Dredge, Jason | Anderson / PVP | 11 Laps | 01:33.2 | 0 |
| 23 | 199 | Davies, Julian | Anderson / THR | 12 Laps | 01:40.0 | 0 |
| 24 | 48 | Bruellmann, Walter | Anderson / FPE | 12 Laps | 0 |
The second race proved much easier for Kout. All of the leaders stayed together at the start and five protagonists began to escape in the following order: Kout, Elkmann, De Brabander, Morley and Clark. By a few lengths, Lehtinen was cruising alone in front of the chasing pack. The race was decided at the start of the third lap when Kout arrived at the hairpin before the line with a comfortable lead over his opponents, with Elkmann bringing up the rear. Kout soared to leave his rivals to fight among themselves. Morley was pulling himself out of the group and left De Brabander, Clark and Elkmann to enliven the race. It was a fierce battle, the three drivers swapping places repeatedly until Clark's retirement. Elkmann took the ascendancy, and the podium proved identical to the previous race. Far behind the leaders, Maasmann was ahead of an excellent Laurens Westerdijk (MS Kart / VM), despite their lack of competition.
Race 2:
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Equipment | Gap | Best Lap | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kout, Adam | MS Kart / DEA | 01:27.8 | 25 | |
| 2 | 3 | Morley, Liam | Anderson / DEA | 11.209 | 01:28.2 | 20 |
| 3 | 2 | Elkmann, Peter | MS Kart / VM | 12.827 | 01:28.6 | 16 |
| 4 | 20 | De Brabander, Yannick | MS Kart / VM | 15.297 | 01:28.8 | 13 |
| 5 | 4 | Maasmann, Marcel | Anderson / VM | 31.152 | 01:29.6 | 11 |
| 6 | 38 | Westerdijk, Laurens | MS Kart / VM | 36.086 | 01:30.5 | 10 |
| 7 | 37 | Van Dijk, Recardo | MS Kart / VM | 57.526 | 01:32.2 | 9 |
| 8 | 87 | Kurstjens, Léo | MS Kart / VM | 57.836 | 01:31.9 | 8 |
| 9 | 17 | Malm, Stefan | PVP / PVP | 58.476 | 01:31.9 | 7 |
| 10 | 15 | Verhaar, Mark | MS Kart / VM | 01:03.2 | 01:32.5 | 6 |
| 11 | 107 | Bennett, Gavin | Anderson / DEA | 01:03.4 | 01:32.1 | 5 |
| 12 | 16 | Harvey, David | Anderson / VM | 01:07.0 | 01:32.7 | 4 |
| 13 | 111 | Platt, Paul | MS Kart / Gas Gas | 01:07.1 | 01:32.1 | 3 |
| 14 | 121 | Weston, Barry | Anderson / DEA | 1 Lap | 01:35.4 | 2 |
| 15 | 41 | Rushforth, Simon | Spyda / FPE | 1 Lap | 01:35.9 | 1 |
| 16 | 48 | Bruellmann, Walter | Anderson / FPE | 1 Lap | 01:40.5 | 0 |
| 17 | 110 | Hulme, Carl | Anderson / THR | 2 Laps | 01:35.6 | 0 |
| 18 | 27 | Clark, Daniel | Anderson / VM | 3 Laps | 01:28.9 | 0 |
| 19 | 70 | Hempshall, Victor | PVP / FPE | 3 Laps | 01:36.0 | 0 |
| 20 | 198 | Ford, Jordan | Anderson / DEA | 4 Laps | 01:32.2 | 0 |
| 21 | 9 | Lehtinen, Vesa | Anderson / VM | 8 Laps | 01:30.4 | 0 |
| 22 | 8 | Dredge, Jason | Anderson / PVP | 12 Laps | 0 | |
| 23 | 171 | Kennedy, Donald | Anderson / THR | 13 Laps | 0 | |
| 24 | 199 | Davies, Julian | Anderson / THR | 13 Laps | 0 |
In the provisional classification of the Championship, Kout (91 points and three wins) took a good option on the title before the final at Assen on 6th and 7th August, against Elkmann (73 points and only one win).
In the single-cylinder Cup, the two favourites were outperforming the clock and in the first race the Australian Jordan Ford (Anderson / DEA) won after making a long trip to experience such a battle. Gavin Bennett (Anderson / DEA) took the lead on Paul Platt (MS Kart / Gas Gas) in the second race and the standings.
