West Norfolk kart racer Jenson Sayell kept his SuperOne Championship hopes alive with two more podiums at the weekend in difficult conditions.
The two rounds took place at Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire, a track Sayell has only raced at once before, in 2021 whilst in the Bambino class.
Sayell had not raced his current kart chassis in the wet, so very heavy rain on Saturday was particularly challenging. Sayell qualified 5th for the heats.
Heat 1 took place in torrential rain with some standing water on track. Having started 5th, Sayell got up to 4th on lap one and into 3rd on lap 4 but went wide on the next lap, dropping back to 4th and finished in the same place 4 laps later. Local driver Elliott Traviss took the win.
In Heat 2, having started 5th, Sayell moved up to 3rd on lap 3 behind Traviss, with Gear Up team mate Leo Livings in the lead. Livings spun out two laps from the end, dropping to 6th, with Traviss taking the lead, Sayell second and fellow Gear Up racer Logan Rolfe third.
The placings remained the same as they took flag, Sayell taking the fastest lap of the race just 0.2 behind Traviss and 5 seconds ahead of Rolfe.
Sayell’s heat results saw him third on the grid for the final, with Traviss on pole and Rolfe second, Livings joining Sayell on row 2.
Sayell got a good start, moving up to second on the first lap and joining Traviss to pull out a gap from third and fourth placed Livings and Rolfe. But Sayell spun on lap 4 after catching too much kerb and dropped right down to fifth behind championship leader Baker.
Sayell passed Baker a lap later and set about catching the lead 3. He joined Rolfe and Livings on lap 6 and as the two fought each other on the final lap, he dived up the inside to take second and the fastest Micromax time of the day with a 1.06.94.
Traviss took his third race win with Sayell second and Livings third.
Sunday was dry and it was straight into qualifying. After a good start, Sayell’s times tailed off and he dropped to sixth at the end of the session.
Sayell dropped to eighth on the opening lap of Heat 1. Eventually able to rejoin the inside train, Sayell managed to move up to 7th on lap 6 and 6th a lap later but then dropped back to 7th, and then back up to 6th again on the last corner. Baker again took the win.
Heat 2 proved equally frustrating with Sayell starting sixth, dropping to seventh at one point and up as high as fourth, eventually crossing the line in fifth. Sayell was later promoted to fourth after the second placed driver failed post race checks.
Heat results put Sayell fourth on the grid for the final which he made the most of with a good start.
He followed third placed Jensen Walker in nose to tail formation, with the two gradually breaking the tow from the pack behind.
Despite good defence from Walker, Sayell took third place on lap 6 and pulled out a 2 second gap by the flag to take his second podium of the weekend. Baker took his third victory with Traviss second.
Sayell’s Dad Rob continued to be impressed by his young son’s performance: “Jenson showed his talent this weekend, racing in really tricky wet conditions on Saturday.
“We struggled with dry pace on Sunday, not finding the right set up for him until the final.
“To get two podiums in two different conditions shows great adaptability.
“It’s so close going into the last two rounds, it’s going to be exciting.”
The results keep Sayell in the championship hunt with the final two rounds still to go later this month.
Sayell has more experience of the Shenington track but has not been there this year in the Micromax class.
The Sayell team would like to thank the GearUp Racing Team for team support, Force Motorsport engine builder for the power, James Taylor Racing for driving coaching/support and believing in Jenson, plus HD Installations Kings Lynn, Chris Phillips – Superstox 99 and Will Dubs for sponsorship support. If anyone would like to offer support for next season information can be found on Jenson Sayell Motorsport Facebook page.
Sayell returns to Hunts Kart Racing Club this weekend for another double header in their Kimbolton Festival event.
