British Superkart Championship

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The British Superkart Championship is a kart racing series run in the United Kingdom under the auspices of the British Superkart Association under Motor Sports Association regulations. The karts race on full-size British circuits such as Silverstone, Donington, Brands Hatch, Pembrey, Anglesey Circuit, Bishopscourt (Northern Ireland), Castle Combe, Darley Moor, Snetterton, Croft, Cadwell Park, Thruxton and Oulton Park with the running of the MSA British Superkart Grand Prix at Donington Park which includes the British round of the European Superkart Championship.

Contents

Classes

The British Superkart Championship runs two packages for four classes.

In 2009, the Formula 450 National was first run within British Superkart events, running on 250 chassis featuring 450cc single-cylinder four-stroke engines, primarily the KTM engine. The Division 1, MSA 250 National and 450 classes are grouped together in one package. On a number of occasions during a season, the two groups are run together in one meeting, most notably the MSA British Superkart Grand Prix and the UK Cup event, but they run separate calendars for the majority of the season.

Champions

In recent years, drivers such as Gavin Bennett, Paul Platt, Toby Davis (VW Racing Cup) Nathan Freke (Ginetta works driver), Lewis Williamson (Formula Renault), James Tucker and Jake Green (Formula Ford) have all raced and won championships in Superkarts. Nigel Mansell raced on the Long Circuits before going on to win the 1992 Formula One Season.

2008: Class1st2nd3rdGP WinnerUK Cup Winner
Division 1Dave Harvey Carl Hulme Paul Kennings Lee Harpham Trevor Roberts
MSA 250 National Jason Dredge Don KennedyJames O'ReillyJason Dredge Gavin Bennett
250 Clubman Sam Moss Kevin Waring Stuart ParkerN/AN/A
125 Open Paul Platt James IrvineDan EdwardsPaul PlattJames Irvine
125 ICC Danny Butler Michael Groves Bruce Crawley Lewis WilliamsonDanny Butler
2009: Class1st2nd3rdGP WinnerUK Cup Winner
Division 1Carl HulmeTrevor RobertsDave Harvey Peter Elkmann (Deu)Carl Hulme
MSA 250 NationalJames O'ReillyJames TuckerJason DredgeJames TuckerJames O'Reilly
250 ClubmanPaul Platt Toby Davis Martin Goodliffe N/AN/A
125 OpenDan EdwardsLee Morgan Louise Colin Dan EdwardsLee Morgan
125 ICC Lloyd Scrivens Adam Underhill Kevin GrayJake GreenChris Needham
2010: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Trevor RobertsGavin BennettTrevor Roberts
MSA 250 NationalJason DredgeJason DredgeJason Dredge
125 OpenDanny ButlerDanny EdwardsChris Needham
2011: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Gavin BennettCarl HulmeGavin Bennett
MSA 250 NationalPaul PlattJason DredgeJason Dredge
125 OpenBen WillshireDanny ButlerBen Willshire
2012: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Charles CravenLee HarphamChris Needham
MSA 250 NationalPaul PlattLuis WallPaul Platt
125 OpenDanny EdwardsDanny EdwardsMatt Isherwood
2013: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Gavin BennettGavin BennettGavin Bennett
MSA 250 NationalPaul PlattToby DavisPaul Platt
125 OpenLee HarphamDanny EdwardsDanny Edwards
2014: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Carl HulmeLiam MorleyLiam Morley
MSA 250 NationalPaul PlattPaul PlattGavin Bennett
125 OpenChris NeedhamChris NeedhamChris Needham
450Stephen Clark
2015: ClassChampionGP WinnerUK Cup '0'
Division 1Liam MorleyLiam MorleyLiam Morley
MSA 250 NationalGavin BennettPaul PlattDan Clark
125 OpenLee HarphamChris NeedhamKirk Cattermole
450Stephen Clark

Press features

Outside of motoring circles, Superkarts are under-publicised. In May 2007, Autocar magazine ran a video track test of a 250 National Superkart round Cadwell Park, with Chris Harris describing Superkart drivers as "... completely mad", and "... the biggest collection of loonies anywhere on planet earth". Even David Coulthard described driving a Superkart as "one of the most frightening things I have ever had to do". In 2009, Valentino Rossi drove a Superkart round Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, beating the Superkart veterans and former Moto GP heroes Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson in an exhibition race before the Moto GP round at Laguna.