It was a perfect weekend for Marshland St James kart racer Jenson Sayell at Hunts Kart Racing Club’s 2023 Kimbolton Festival over the weekend.
Nine-year-old Sayell won five out of five races, took the fastest lap in each race (and qualifying) and was voted Commentators’ Cadet of the Weekend.
Saturday’s qualifying session set the grid for Heat 1. Sayell took his Micromax to pole position with a time of 48.00 seconds around the 989 metre track. The Micromax and Honda Cadet class were combined for the races, with Hondas starting after the Micromax.
After a good start to Heat 1, Sayell pulled away from pole with Lucien Smith behind, having passed Charlie Page who dropped to fourth on lap 1. Page recovered quickly, taking second on lap 5, but Sayell had already built a gap at the front to finish 6.5 seconds ahead at the chequered flag on lap 13.
Heat 2’s grid was set on the basis of Heat 1 results with Page joining Sayell on the front row for the rolling start. Page crossed the start slightly ahead but Sayell was quickest into the first corner with Smith snatching second.
All karts were on slick tyres when, two laps in, the rain came down and the key thing became just staying on track as karts began to spin off.
Sayell and Smith avoided spinning and the latter started to close on Sayell as the rain ceased and returned in the closing stages. Sayell held off a challenge and took a second win just half second clear but still taking the fastest lap.
Sunday’s racing started with Heat 3 the grid again determined by Heat 2’s results. Smith joined Sayell on the front row, with Maximilian Braskov and Page making up row two.
With dry conditions, Sayell gradually left Smith behind with Page taking up second place on lap 10 of 13. Sayell, however, was 4.5 seconds ahead as he took his third chequered flag of the weekend, also taking the fastest lap with a time of 47.76.
On pole for the Pre-Final, Sayell romped away from the rest, lapping into the Honda field as he finished 6.1 seconds clear, taking a fifth fastest lap of the weekend with a time of 47.67.
The all important Final grid saw Sayell on pole with Page alongside, Smith behind Sayell and James Devereux making up row two.
Sayell made another perfect start. Braskov took up second after Page and Smith came together on the opening lap.
Smith retook second on lap 6 but was shadowed by Braskov over the remaining ten laps, allowing Sayell to romp ahead to a 7.1 second lead by the flag, his only challenge being passing back markers without incident. Another fastest lap of 47.76 illustrated Sayell’s consistency.
Rob Sayell, chief mechanic and Sayell’s father, was impressed. He said: “I was very pleased with how Jenson drove this weekend. With a lower than normal entry, we expected Jenson to do well but sometimes that just adds extra pressure for him.
“Sunday’s racing was live streamed and I particularly liked how the commentators picked up on Jenson’s smooth driving style so much so that they chose him for their Cadet of the Weekend to win a photo canvas by Stu Stretton.”
As well as the photo canvas, Sayell took home prizes including a free practice and race weekend entry and a set of slick tyres courtesy of HKRC and festival sponsors, as well as a winner’s cap and trophy.
He would like to thank Lynn News for their interest and his sponsors HD Installations, Chris Phillips- Superstox and William Dubs plus Force Motorsport for the power.
With decisions needed soon about next season’s championship entries, the team would be pleased to hear from any local companies that would like to offer Jenson support in return for kart advertising.
“Live streaming is common now so advertising potential is very good, with Jenson gaining a lot of attention”, added Rob.
Jenson Sayell Motorsport can be contacted through their Facebook page.
Sayell will be chasing success at Shenington in Oxfordshire for the final two rounds of the SuperOne Championship at the end of the month.
