Hughes goes looking for a third karting championship (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hughes goes looking for a third karting championship

FOLLOWING his third-place finish at Shenington on the weekend before last, Richard Hughes, from Castle Eaton, has now clinched the 2004 Whilton Mill Kart Club Championship for the popular Rotax Max class to add to the one he achieved at Rissington earlier in the month.

However, the elusive third title at Shenington will not be decided until later this month.

Nonetheless, the Total Butler driver did enough at last Sunday's Whilton Mill meeting to secure the championship, despite being forced off the track in the final race.

With very wet and cold conditions making driving and visibility difficult, the result on the day was always going to be something of a lottery.

Only one other driver could have beaten Hughes to the title, but he would have needed to win the race.

In the event, he ended up in tenth place, so the 11-round series was formally awarded to Hughes.

As the Arrow team celebrated the achievement of a second title in the season, Hughes was asked how he had felt in the final race.

He replied, "I thought we were alright at the start as I had a clear 40 points lead over Darren Masters.

"I had qualified only one place behind him, but when I was forced on to the grass at the first corner, my heart nearly stopped!"

He concluded, "I had to finish to be sure of it, so I kept going with my front nosecone dragging on the ground and the race seemed to go on forever. I was very glad to see the chequered flag!"

There were two other celebrations also going on in the Richard Hughes Racing pits.

For Worcestershire's Alex Ashby, 14, successfully completed his final race as a Junior Novice and has qualified for a full licence next season.

And, meanwhile, 13-year-old Alexander Gatton, who had already won the Whilton Mill Minimax Championship, wanted to try one of Richard's Arrow karts on the Saturday.

In fact, he liked it so much, that he raced it in Junior Rotax on Sunday.

He qualified third in the 22- strong field and, though held up at the start, fought back to finish a close second, securing fastest lap in the process.

And so before the trophy awards dinners, there is just the matter of settling the Shening-ton Championship for Hughes.

He will, of course, will have a tough battle on his hands to get that one next month, but there will be no effort spared.

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