FAMILIAR faces on the top step of the podium was a feature of Llandow Kart Club’s August round as the Welsh club moved into the second half of its championship campaign.

Despite the school holidays continuing to subdue entries across the board, the club introduced standing starts for all able classes, as well as staging the first of four events constituting its inaugural Bambino Challenge. The racing was excellent throughout and, with no delays to the timetable, the drivers were rewarded with increased track time for the finals.

The new Bambino competition, which will run through to the end of the championship season in November, will count three rounds from four, with the winner being judged on the consistency of their lap times. Drivers will compete for the Richard Dowers Bambino Award, remembering the club’s former secretary and keen supporter of the Bambino class.

Novice Oscar Blanchard marked himself out as a name to watch in the category after topping all four track sessions, edging out Llandow regular Nathan Browning in the process. Ryley Price and another rookie, Ryan Smith, were left to contest third spot, with Price filling the position each time. All drivers showed improved times through the day and were duly presented with trophies for their efforts

The two Cadet classes were combined at this event, with the returning IAME field joining the Honda runners after missing July. Honda honours were shared between Ben Watson and July winner Axel Laflamme, but it was the latter who emerged on top in the final, beating the consistent Austin Maddocks to the flag by a couple of seconds.

Just as he had four weeks previously, Watson completed the Honda podium, but was separated from the top two on this occasion by IAME winner Thomas Nippers, who had duelled with Harry Yardley-Rose throughout the day. Like Laflamme, Nippers opened out a two-second gap over his rival in the last race of the day, with Alexander Austin completing the podium. Honda novice Ellis Puleio was rewarded with driver of the day honours for his efforts.

After their close encounters last month, the battle between Junior Honda runners Alex Wilkins and Ben Cutler did not disappoint, the pair going head-to-head in each of their four races. Wilkins took the heats 2-1, but it was Cutler who crossed the line first, by just a couple of tenths, in the final.

Despite the depth of talent on show, Ryan Edwards proved unbeatable in Junior TKM, claiming all three heats as well as the final. July winner Louis Beaven started the day as Edwards’ closest challenger, taking second in heats one and two, but it was Yousuf Ashraf who claimed runners-up honours in the final, pushing Beaven back to third ahead of Jack Johns, who had been a top three finisher earlier in the day. The class’ only rookie, Adam Crofts-Davies took home the novice of the day award.

Like Edwards, Welsh champion Kristian Prosser proved unwilling to relinquish top spot in Senior Honda, seeing off a host of would-be challengers to remain unbeaten throughout the day. Monty Gorringe claimed a brace of seconds from the heats, with Tom Ford taking the other, but it was Patrick Hill who came through to edge Gorringe for the runners-up spot in the final, with Ford ultimately finishing fourth.

Morgan Rose returned to the top of the Senior Rotax tree after missing out in July, and refused to allow anyone a look at P1 as he too claimed all four races on offer. Sam Morgan ran Rose close in the first two heats before the gap between the leader and the chasing pack increased as the event went on. Rose eventually claimed the final by a little over three seconds, with Rob Ellis taking second spot from Scott Rose by a similar distance. Morgan’s day, meanwhile, ended in frustration as he was forced to retire from the final after 10 laps.

Round eight of the Llandow Kart Club championship will take place on Sunday, September 20.