Successful Rissington outing for the Richard Hughes karting team (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Successful Rissington outing for the Richard Hughes karting team

THE Richard Hughes Racing team had a successful day at the opening round of the Rissington Championship on March 7.

Team leader Richard Hughes finished a close second in Senior Rotax, Philip Stanley convincingly won Junior Intermediate and Peter Blakeney had his first heat win in Junior Rotax and qualified in pole position.

The Rissington Kart Club circuit, near Stow-on-the-Wold, is a drivers' favourite with fast flowing corners and a recently re-surfaced track.

Despite the confusing weather, sunny one minute and rain the next, Richard qualified in third for his big race from a field of 24.

The former club champion, who is supported by Total Butler Fuels, had a long battle with Jonathan Downer, from Wales, with the pair of them well clear of the rest of the pack.

Hughes took an early lead in the slippery conditions but then Downer got ahead before Hughes put in the fastest lap of the race and was back on his bumper.

They were side by side in the final corner, but Downer got better traction and took the chequered flag by two-tenths of a second.

The Junior drivers in the team were clearly benefiting from Richard's coaching.

On his first visit to Rissington in Junior Rotax, 14-year-old Peter Blake-ney, from Calne, secured his maiden heat win on his Arrow.

He then continued to post fastest laps and did enough in the other two heats to qualify in pole position. It was unfortunate for him that it started to rain, as he had no experience of driving there in the wet!

Nevertheless, he kept it on the track and still managed to finish sixth in a very strong field.

Philip Stanley was in a class of his own in Junior Intermediate. The 15-year-old also qualified in the top spot, but put his experience to good use in the wet.

He pulled away at the start and just continued to extend his lead as the race went on.

It was an accomplished drive and a boost to his confidence as he heads for the first round of the British Championships next month.

Further details can be found on the team's KDesign web site at: www.bizness.co.uk/karting