Strathclyde's 2018 British Universities Karting Championship campaign got off to a flying start as 5 of the team headed to Whilton Mill Kart Circuit for the first free practice session of the season on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

With 2 new members of the team joining 2017 regulars George Liddle, Matthew Bird and Jessica Alexander for the day, spirits were high heading into the day. 

The Strathclyde A kart was to be piloted by newcomer Craig Yates, 24 hour strategy wonder Robert Mathershaw and 2017 Lightweights' Champion Jessica Alexander. The B kart was shared between George and Matthew who were looking to get back into the swing of things with neither having competed since the 24 Hours in July.

As the session started Jess headed out in the A kart, with George in the B. With his experience from last year George was quickly on the pace and finding his feet around the newcomers on track, beginning to find his way past slower traffic in the opening laps. As soon as the pit lane opened, Jess brought the A kart in to allow the first of the newcomers, Robert, to take the wheel and venture out on track. 

Having never driven anything other than a corporate kart, and never driven on an outdoor circuit before this test, Rob took a few laps to find his feet with the extra power and grip of the Club100 karts. It was just as he begun to find his feet and start to explore the limits that he followed in the footsteps of several others before and lost control, making heavy contact with the barrier and damaging the kart. Not to be deterred, a slightly shaken Rob handed the (spare...) kart over to Craig for his first run of the day. 

While the A team had been in the wars, George and Matthew had been steadily pounding round in the B kart, with both drivers looking solid and consistent, getting back into the rythm of driving these karts.

Craig was learning his way around, again getting to grips with a completely new kart, and getting quicker lap by lap. After a couple of spins finding his feet, he ended up lapping consistently in the mid-field, even engaging in some wheel to wheel battles along the way! All in all, a solid day for a newcomer. Craig ended up finishing with a best time of 50.016, very respectable for his first time in these karts!

Having recovered from his accident earlier on and getting back in then kart to have another go, Rob too began to build his confidence and lap within the pack. Again managing to even go wheel to wheel with some more experienced competition and post some clean lap times, Robert finished the day with a best time of 49.234.

Matthew and George, both experienced campaigners by now, had a fairly uneventful two hour session, with consistent laps turned by both drivers and constant improvements throughout. With each driver doing 20 minutes at a time, ideal for practicing for the championship races, Matthew ended on a best time of 45.507 and George on a 46.418.

To end the day Jess jumped in the A kart, and after a few good laps of wheel to wheel action with the championship organiser, Will Tew, began to light up the timing screen with some of the fastest laps seen all session. At the end of the 2 hour session Jess had improved to a 44.314, to put the Strathclyde A kart fastest overall.

With more than 250 laps turned across the 2 karts, and with the teams placed 1st and 9th overall, the Strathclyde contingent looks to be in fine form for the beginning of the 2018 BUKC season!

A final thanks from the entire team needs to be extended to the University of Strathclyde Alumni Fund and University of Strathclyde Students Association, as without their funding and support the team simply couldn't attend these sessions. The team would also like to thank BUKC and Club100 for running yet another awesome event!

Roll on Buckmore!