James Thorp overcame a flying kart and a mistaken exclusion to qualify for the grand finals of the European Junior Karting Championship. At Essay in Normandy, France, James was competing against the best from the UK, France, Portugal and Spain for one of only 25 places in the finals, to be held at Sarno, Italy on September 2nd.
James qualified 8th in timed practice and in his first heat came off the line fighting only for a Portuguese driver (Lousada) to have his kart launched into the air and land on James’ shoulder. He carried on but was understandably shaken. He finished top ten in the next heat but in his last one he was mistakenly listed as disqualified and there was a tense wait while his team, Strawberry Racing, got it sorted out.
After just squeaking into the first of the two main races on the last row of the grid, James set about picking off his competitors and climbing into the top 25. After the 17 laps he had overtaken half the 34-kart field to finish 17th, but his lap times were easily the equal of the top ten.
In the second race he dropped back at the rolling start, unwilling to risk another crash, which would prevent him qualifying for the Italian race. During the first lap he more than made up for it by taking back no less than five places. Much of the race was spent battling with his contemporaries from the British Championship, but James was able to overcome them to finish 13th and secure his shot at the European Championship. On his way he secured the third fastest lap.
The field will also include drivers from Italy, Belgium and Scandinavia, who have had their own qualifiers, but James is confident of a result after finishing 2nd against the same field at the Winter Cup at the beginning of the year.
Before then James has more work to do in the British and Italian Championships. He is now in Italy for the final round of the Italians at Val Vibrata near Rome, where he is lying down in 26th after a date clash with the British Championship. A strong race here though could easily move him up into the top ten.
