Ipswich’s Robert Welham, 15, has continued his recent run of excellent form with some stunning results in a busy summer race programme at some of the most prestigious events around the country.
Having taken a well-earned third place podium at round five of the British Karting Championships, the Claydon High School pupil won the highly regarded ‘Super Prix’ Event at Shenington Kart Racing Club, came a creditable third at the Maxxis TKM Festival at Kimbolton, before heading back to Shenington for round six of the British Championships.
At the Super Prix, Welham started the grand final in fifth position. A frantic start would see him make some exciting overtakes before he hit the front, where he proceeded to drive a controlled race under enormous pressure to take a well-deserved victory from Ross Deal, one of his British Championship rivals.
August saw Welham in action at the TKM Festival, where he was competing for the Junior TKM Festival Elite Championship and the ‘Open Championship’ title all on the same weekend. This event is the largest single class Festival in the country, bringing together nearly 300 drivers.
He took a well-earned third place podium finish in The Junior Elite Final through an excellent performance coupled with one of the overtakes of the season.
This led to round six of Super One, British Karting Championships at Shenington. Up against the very best drivers in the country, Welham, still in his rookie year at this level, proceeded to dominate at a track notoriously difficult for not being able to break the ‘tow’ of the chasing pack, going on to win heat two and Final One, seeing him start the Grand Final in second place.
The Grand Final was an epic affair with the lead changing at least six times in the opening laps, with Welham making use of his natural ability to overtake with some breath-taking moves, he resisted some intense pressure from the chasing pack to secure victory and his fourth National meeting podium in a row.
Team manager Jake Coward said: “Rob has put in excellent drives to win both finals, his drive in the main final was technically flawless and probably his best so far.”
Despite his earlier victory in round one, Welham suffered a couple of difficult rounds which left him 13th prior to this weekend.
However with an impressive 193 points last week, he is now up to seventh, counting dropped scores, with a distinct possibility of ‘Top Rookie’ and a highly coveted seeded number plate for 2018 going into the final round to be held over the weekend of September 8-10 at PF International Circuit near Lincoln.
All Super One and National meetings are shown on Motors TV and on TDi Media on YouTube.
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