The PF International Challenge Cup saw some of the fiercest racing of the season so far, with packed grids and some of the toughest competitors in UK karting. As a pre-round to the British O Plate, this event gave drivers the perfect opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition ahead of one of the biggest races of the year. Team TBKART took on the challenge, pushing through adversity, hard racing, and unpredictable moments to showcase incredible resilience and racecraft.
Riley Bishop: Grit and Determination
Riley faced an uphill battle after a tough qualifying session and two nose cone penalties in the heats, leaving him on the back foot. Despite the setbacks, he secured a place in the A Final and delivered a stellar drive, fighting from P32 to P13. His performance under pressure proves he’s got the racecraft to go head-to-head with the best, making up 19 positions in a fiercely competitive grid.
James Kell: Pace to Impress
James had a strong qualifying and backed it up with solid heat performances, lining up P15 for the final. The race itself saw intense battles, and despite dropping back to P16 in the final stages, his pace was undeniable all weekend. The foundations are there for a big result, and James continues to prove he’s a serious contender.
Lewis Sumner: Fighting Spirit
A difficult qualifying session meant Lewis had to fight from the back in his heats. With sheer determination, he pushed through to multiple top-10 finishes, lining up P20 for the final. Unfortunately, an incident at the start sent him to the back of the field. Despite recovering well, a nose cone penalty saw him finish P26. His ability to charge through the field is clear, and better luck in the final will no doubt see him challenging at the front soon.
Harry Hurst-Grover: Battling Through Adversity
Harry’s weekend got off to a tough start with engine issues in qualifying, leaving him 56th overall. Despite this, he fought hard in his heats, making solid progress. Lining up P8 for the B Final, he gave it everything but narrowly missed out on an A Final place. With the odds stacked against him, his determination was undeniable.
Elliot Foster: A Weekend of Challenges
Elliot’s weekend was shaped by unfortunate incidents in both heats, forcing him to start near the back of the B Final. Determined to fight his way through, another incident in the B Final ultimately ended his chances of making it through to the A. A difficult weekend, but one that will only fuel his drive for stronger results ahead.
Looking Ahead to the British O Plate
With the British O Plate just around the corner, the Challenge Cup provided invaluable experience for Team TBKART. The pace is clearly there, and despite setbacks, our drivers proved their ability to fight through the field and battle with the best.
The team now regroups, taking key lessons from the weekend into the next challenge. With refined setups, racecraft honed, and confidence high, TBKART is ready to take on the British O Plate with full force.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Race Report by Janine Kell, On Track Marketing