Leyland Karting Championship - Round 8

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING ON LEYLAND

Tradesmen with a taste for the high life ensured the last heat of Leyland's all-conquering Karting Championship ended with a flourish in Northern Ireland.

Thirty fearless competitors from across the trades marched into Formula Karting in Newry and no one had any intention of missing out on the two remaining spots in the national final.

Played out over a gruelling and demanding three hours the heat was bursting with incident and featured some of the most impressive driving to date. The two drivers who showed the most cunning around the tricky track were Johnny Lennon and Darren McLaughlin, who both outshone their competitors from the outset.

Located in the heart of Newry, Formula Karting was a fitting venue to stage the final heat of this year's Leyland Karting Championship. With three tracks intertwining it can claim to be the largest indoor karting venue in Europe making it for the perfect match for all conquering Leyland Championship!

It was clear from the outset that the drivers in Newry meant business...so much so that they declined Guinness in favour of a Coke! The 'craic' between the drivers was evident in the plush surroundings of the waiting area, where Leyland Lovely Pippa was on hand to pose for photographs with the lucky lads. The touch of glamour provided by Pippa didn't last for long for the drivers called out to race, though, where the sweet smell of perfume was cruelly snuffed out by petrol fumes.

Out on the track a string of near misses between the karts set pulses racing amongst the drivers, who were determined not to give their rivals an edge despite the joviality out in the waiting area! The mood was lightened, however, when one driver was seen desperately trying to get his stuck shoe out of the kart before the next karts came blazing up behind him. Michael 'Shoemacher', anyone? No, didn't think so...

After a series of pulsating heats and a brace of semi-finals that should have come with a Government health warning it was left for the six best drivers to battle it out for the top two spots in a ten-lap final.

Johnny Lennon, who had cheekily admitted to a few practise laps in the weeks leading up to the Championship, got off to a flier and glided around the bends as if they weren't there. The lead he opened up between himself and the rest of the field was enough to cast a shadow over Northern Ireland's most famous landmark, Giant's Causeway, and he duly cruised over the finishing line arms aloft celebrating another hard day’s night.

One man determined to claim second spot was 22-year-old Darren, who fought off the valiant attempts of Chris McLester, who had travelled all the way from Coleraine to show off his show-stealing Chupa Chups helmet!

Already imagining himself triumphing at the Birmingham final Johnny, a self-employed electrician from Downpatrick, said: "I've been to the track a few times before in the past so that might have given me a little edge on a few of the other guys. There was some pretty tough competition out there, though, and I definitely had to fight hard to secure first place."

Darren, who works for Thomas Gibney & Company in Downpatrick, said: "I'm really chuffed to have made it through to the final where I'll be doing my best to finish a place higher!"

Johnny and Darren will be joined by 14 other tradespeople at the national final where they will be competing for a string of amazing prizes. Along with scooping the Championship trophy, the champion will also walk away with a behind the scenes full hospitality package for two with Leyland’s sponsored team, Airwaves BMW, at the final race of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. Two nights accommodation for two at a four star hotel is also included along with £250 spending money and an exclusive BTCC & Leyland goodie bag. All the runners up at the national final will get their hands on a driving day experience voucher, along with a host of other prizes.