James Thorp's Official Website

James dominates at Sarno

Mary-Ann Horley — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:18:55 +0000

Spectacular results at Sarno are becoming a habit for James after his near perfect weekend ended in victory yesterday (Sunday 20th July). On his first return to the circuit where he went from last to third in the 2007 European Championship, James moved into third place in the WSK International Series by going fastest in qualifying, winning two heats and both of the finals.

The weekend started well when James took pole by two tenths and he went on to use his front row advantage to win two out of his four heats. A setback came when his engine failed in another heat, dropping him down in the standings before the finals on Sunday afternoon, although his Maranello kart and Maxter engine continued to give him a two-tenth advantage.

But the two points-scoring races were what he was there for: “In the Prefinal I had to start on grid 13 as a result of my DNF heat but I was able to capitalize on my pace and take the lead on about the 6th or 7th lap, and convert it into a win which was great.”

“Then for the final, starting on pole was a lot easier for me than grid 13, and I was able to lead for more or less the whole race, barring the first lap where Matteo Vigano (Italy) led,” he added.

In the main Final he was able to go even faster, admitting that “I did not expect to win as comfortably as I did and have a six-tenth a lap advantage over my competitors, but the kart was working very well and also my engine, so the result was fantastic for me and Maranello.”

As this has now rocketed James up to third in the title hunt there will be extra motivation at the final round in Spain in October. He is 16 points behind the other two series race-winners. “I believe now that I have a chance at the title so I am looking forward to the last round of the WSK to try and clinch it, it will be very hard as both Jack Harvey (GB) and Anniello Smarrazzo (Italy) are talented, but I am looking forward to the challenge.”

The next time James will be on track is at the European KF2 Championship at Braga in Portugal in the first weekend of August. He came fourth in the Qualifier last week in Spain so will undoubtedly be among the favourites.

Winter Cup - Off track

Mary-Ann Horley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:58:30 +0000

Inside the Maranello awning

James with his mechanic Mansell

Chatting with Jack Harvey and Antonio Da Costa

Mansell and Euan working on the kart

2008 Winter Cup - On Track

Mary-Ann Horley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:44:04 +0000

James Thorp signs deal with Maranello factory team

Mary-Ann Horley — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:20:09 +0000

“Team manager Euan Jeffery is also very happy with his new driver -”We are all very pleased here at Maranello to have James on board, as he is a very fast and promising young driver with a lot of talent! In 2008 and also in the future he will be one of the drivers to beat!”"

Read the full story at KartXPress

James’ Joy At Joining New Team

Mary-Ann Horley — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:17:42 +0000

“JAMES Thorp’s brilliant 2007 international karting season has been rewarded for 2008 with a factory drive at the team that beat him to the European Championship! The 15-year-old Evesham racer is moving up to senior karting after finishing third in the Junior European Championship and has signed a deal to race for Maranello Kart next year.”

James is moving to Maranello

Mary-Ann Horley — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:59:01 +0000

James Thorp’s brilliant 2007 international karting season has been rewarded for 2008… with a factory drive at the team that beat him to the European Championship! 15-year-old James is moving up to senior karting after finishing third in the Junior European Championship this year and on Friday signed a deal to race for Maranello Kart in 2008.

“I’m looking forward to racing with the team, I can learn so much from them and hopefully can win plenty more races. It’s my GCSE year though [at the Kings School, Worcester], so fitting everything in is going to be tough but not impossible,” said James.

Team manager Euan Jeffery is also very happy with his new driver - “We are all very pleased here at Maranello to have James on board, as he is a very fast and promising young driver with a lot of talent! In 2008 and also in the future he will be one of the drivers to beat!”

His first few races in the KF2 category have been a resounding success and his win at the Industrial Trophy at Parma (Italy) in October sealed his reputation as a driver to watch. James will race in the European and Italian Championships as a team-mate to multiple World Champion Davide Fore.

British Championship 2007 Season

Mary-Ann Horley — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:01:31 +0000

Evesham race ace does the Italian job

Mary-Ann Horley — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:19:13 +0000

“EVESHAM kart racer James Thorp enjoyed his first international win when he took a lights-to-flag victory in the final round of the Industrial Trophy at Parma, Italy.”

Roaring away in Hamilton’s slipstream

Mary-Ann Horley — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:14:26 +0000

“James Thorp, 15, from Worcestershire, who came third in the European junior championships, but left many onlookers open-mouthed after a sensational race in Italy where he started in 26th place after a crash in the prefinal and finished third.”

First European win for James at Industrials

Mary-Ann Horley — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:11:35 +0000

Strawberry Racing’s James Thorp (Tonykart/Vortex) enjoyed his first international win at the weekend, when he took a lights-to-flag victory in the second and final round of the Industrial Trophy, held on consecutive weekends at Parma in Italy.

Traditionally the races where drivers try out new classes before the start of the new season, James had moved up into the senior KF2 class after his third place in the junior KF3 European Championship back in September.

In the first round, James was fast enough to get noticed but ultimately fell victim to another driver’s accident and didn’t finish the final. Staying in Italy for the week gave him a chance to mentally prepare and when racing started again on the following Saturday he was ready to take full advantage of the experience gained.

After taking pole position, only once did James falter, with a second place in his first heat race, but with only three tenths between himself and the winner Paolo De Conto there was nothing to choose between the two drivers. As the day went on, the positions were reversed, with James soon the best part of a second ahead of De Conto. In the final, James led from the start while his rivals battled amongst themselves, finishing just over five seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

James finished 7th overall in the mini-series, and is now attracting attention throughout the industry and beyond. As well as being mentioned as one to watch in the Sunday Times (14/10/07), he is being courted by several teams and manufacturers for a works drive for 2008. His next race will be at the start of November when he will race in the British Winter Series at PF International in Lincolnshire.