Robert: I can still win it
ICA star remains up-beat after experiencing the ecstasy - and agony - of motoracing

16-year old Rob won the first final of the penultimate round of the British Super 1 kart championship and led the 2nd race, before suffering an engine failure. He said, “Seizing in the 2nd race has made things harder now but the win in the first still gives me a decent chance. There are two races left and I’ve got to win both of them. It’s going to be tough but I’ve been at the front in the last 4 races, so we’ll just have to see.”

Racing at the Warden Law circuit in Sunderland (26 August), Rob’s day started well – he was fastest in timed qualifying and went on to convert his subsequent pole positions into two finely taken wins in the heats, giving him the P1 slot for the first of the two finals.

Getting the jump on his RFM team-mate Sam Tordoff, Rob took a perfect lights-to-flag victory – with Tordoff finishing just ½ a second behind - “I think if I’d won the 2nd final, then that would’ve been the championship all wrapped-up” said Robert about the “major disappointment” that was about to follow.

Converting his pole position into a commanding lead, Robert looked easily in control of the second final when disaster struck - “I’d got a comfortable lead and everything was going perfectly but then the motor just let go. I watched the race from the sidelines thinking ‘that’s it, we’re out of the championship now’ but Elliot (Burton) won with Shaun Carter in 2nd and that stole points from my closest rivals in the table.” It was an especially cruel blow, as Robert has been the only one of the title challengers to have suffered not one but two motor seizures.

However, with the Super 1 championship run over 6 rounds, and competitors having to drop two rounds from their overall points tally, Rob’s now only 5 points off the lead.

“It would be nice to go to the last round (at Clay Pigeon, Dorset – 16 September) with no pressure on my shoulders. But it’s the same for me, Sam (Tordoff), Rob Foster and Greg Harper. I’ve shown that I can be fastest in Timed Qualifying and win races. So all I need now is a little bit of luck.”   

If he wins the championship, Robert will have to think seriously about his future. Having passed 7 GCSEs at Shoeburyness High School, he’s considering whether to study A level courses or commit himself to racing - “I’d like to carry on studying but my racing schedule will effect my ability to do three subjects. This is my first year in ICA and I’m in with a shout of winning a major British title. Lewis Hamilton had to make a similar decision – education or racing? He chose karting and look where he ended up.”     

To see how Rob does at Clay Pigeon (16 September) - and at the World Cup in Mariembourg (23 September) keep visiting this site or go to www.robertfosterjones.com

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