DOUBLE TOP FOR CLARK BUT LAYTON TAKES OVERALL HONOURS

MSA BRITISH SUPERKART CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUNDS 1,2 & 3

SILVERSTONE 27^TH MARCH 2016

Gary James Reporting

UK Cup holder Dan Clark picked up from where he left off at the end of last season with two wins at Silverstone, but it was Team Parker Motorsport driver Jack Layton that was the star of the show. Starting from pole position in Race 1, Layton took an immediate lead while Clark moved up from a fourth row grid position to hold second place ahead of James O’Reilly, James Hassall, Toby Davis and reigning MSA Superkart Champion Gavin Bennett. 

Clark closed onto the tail of Layton on lap 2 and took the lead on the following lap, leaving Layton to fend off Bennett who was quickest on track at this stage. Layton responded next time around, retaking the lead and setting fastest lap of the race. His job made slightly easier when Clark had issues with the brakes. 

Layton was also experiencing problems, his DEA leaking a bit of oil which was getting onto the rear right wheel and making left hand corners a bit of a handful. Clark regained the lead on lap 5 but then spun out of the race at the Vale Chicane when he wound on all the brake bias to the front, the kart swapping ends under heavy braking. “I had turned the brake bias knob the wrong way and then couldn’t catch the hand clutch in time as the kart went out of control to try and keep the motor running.”

Starting the last lap, Layton led Bennett by 0.093s with Davis a further 0.775s behind. Over the final 3.66 miles Layton held on the secure his first win in the championship. A very popular result. Davis showed good speed with the Viper engine and got ahead of Bennett for second place. Four times champion, Paul Platt lost touch with the group ahead as his Gas Gas was a bit down on power. He crossed the line in fourth place but was then excluded from the results due to a non-compliant chain guard. This elevated James O’Reilly into fifth spot just ahead of James Hassall. Gareth James started from the back of the grid after being excluded in qualifying, also with a non-compliant chain guard. But a determined drive saw him collect sixth place at the flag.

Clark was out to make amends in Race 2 but it was O’Reilly that led at the end of the opening lap with Bennett and Layton on his tail. They had got a couple of seconds over Hassall, Clark, James and Ross Allen. Platt had weaved his way among the slower runners along the Hangar and Wellington Straights on lap 1 and was already up to 9^th place while Toby Davis was out at the end of Hangar Straight when the Viper motor seized.

Layton held onto his lead but Clark was closing in. After setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 4, he was right on Layton’s tail at the end of lap 5 and swept into the lead approaching Copse Corner. But Layton wasn’t beaten. Down the Hangar Straight for the last time he ducked out of Clark’s slipstream and was through as they went into Stowe Corner. Clark bided his time through the new section of the GP circuit and as they entered the Wellington Straight saw an opportunity. This time it stuck and he crossed the line to win by 0.837s. Bennett had the best seat in the house watching the action ahead and had to settle for another third place finish. Allen got the better of O’Reilly on the last lap to take fourth place with Don Kennedy bringing the THR engine into 6^th spot after retiring in race 1 with a snapped chain. 

Race 3 was eagerly anticipated by the large crowd at Silverstone. Clark made the most of his pole position and led Bennett at the end of lap 1 with Layton third ahead of Allen. O’Reilly just held off Hassall with James and Andy Bird next while Platt was up to 15^th place after starting at the back of the grid. Clark set the fastest lap of the race as early as lap 2 and started to pull away at the front. By lap 4 he was 4.809s ahead with Bennett second just holding off Layton. O’Reilly had got ahead of Allen with James sixth in front of Hassall. Platt was in 9^th spot and closing in on Kennedy. 

Clark eased his pace on the final lap as his neck was giving him trouble but he had a sufficient lead and crossed the line 4.947s ahead. “It was a lonely race. The engine temperature read 250 degrees on lap 3 but I hoped it was a faulty sensor and kept going. Fortunately I was correct.”

Bennett was also suffering neck problems and Layton took advantage, moving into second place on lap 5. Layton held on for another excellent result and now tops the points table after three rounds. Reigning champion Bennett collected another third place but knows the defence of his title will be tough this year. Allen and O’Reilly enjoyed a good scrap for fourth place while Hassall snatched sixth from James on the last lap. “The gearing was slightly wrong so I was a bit down on top speed, but when Gareth missed a gear coming onto the Wellington Straight for the last time I took my chance.” Platt got ahead of Kennedy but was a disappointing 8^th in what may be his last MSA British Superkart event. The four times champion was not happy with the way he had been dealt with by the scrutineers earlier in the day.

Race One (6 laps) 1 Jack Layton (Anderson DEA) 12m57.028s (101.75mph); 2 Toby Davis (Anderson Viper SK250S) +0.313s; 3 Gavin Bennett (Anderson DEA); 4 James O’Reilly (PVP Viper SK250S); 5 James Hassall (Jade DEA); 6 Gareth James (Anderson DEA). 

Fastest Lap Layton 2m 07.686s (103.20mph).

Race Two (6 laps) 1 Dan Clark (Anderson Gas Gas) 13m00.045s (101.36mph); 2 Jack Layton (Anderson DEA) + 0.837s; 3 Gavin Bennett (Anderson DEA); 4 Ross Allen (Jade DEA); 5 James O’Reilly (PVP Viper SK250S); 6 Don Kennedy (Anderson THR). 

Fastest Lap Clark 2m 07.688s (103.20mph). 

Race Three (6 laps) 1 Dan Clark (Anderson Gas Gas) 12m58.822s (101.52mph); 2 Jack Layton (Anderson DEA) + 4.947s; 3 Gavin Bennett (Anderson DEA); 4 Ross Allen (Jade DEA); 5 James O’Reilly (PVP Viper SK250S); 6 James Hassall (Jade DEA). 

Fastest Lap Clark 2m 08.008s (102.94mph). 

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