An up-and-coming local karter learns his lines from Zip Karts’ Dan Faulkner.
GUERNSEY’S young drivers have been put through their paces by two trainers from Lewis Hamilton’s old karting team.
Hertfordshire-based Dan Faulkner and Dean Meyer, of Zip Kart Driver Development, spent a full day instructing 13 karters at the Track.
They also run Zip Young Guns racing team, whose former drivers include last year’s F1 World Championship runner-up Hamilton and David Coulthard.
Faulkner is also a two-time British karting champion.
It was the first time that instructors had come to give sessions in Guernsey.
The trip was part-funded by the Guernsey Sports Commission.
Angus Torode, 9, was one of the nine cadet racers who benefited from their tuition.
‘It’s been fun,’ said the St Martin’s schoolboy.
‘I’ve learnt how to go faster round the track and how to drive in the wet a bit better.’
The weather also played its part as the morning’s downpours were followed by bright sunshine in the afternoon.
It gave the students the opportunity to learn how to drive in the wet and in the dry.
Guernsey Kart and Motor Club kart vice-captain John Watson, who helped organise the day, explained one drill.
‘They’ve been learning to drive one-handed so that they feed the kart into the corners as opposed to snatching,’ he said.
‘They’ve also put small cones on the corners to show them the apex of the bend and where to brake. They’ve been instructing them and their mechanics about the karts’ set up and getting them to get their hands dirty as well.’
Meyer believes it was a worthwhile event.
‘It’s been good because basically the kids have got a good standard of kart control but we’ve pushed them a little bit further today,’ he said.
‘Some of the kids were quick already but the kids who were slower are now up with the fast ones. And it’s been good with the weather as we’ve had half a day in the wet and showing them wet driving techniques.’
Watson said they were looking to get instructors over again – the results of a few hours’ instructing had been staggering.
‘I can’t think of one driver who hasn’t visibly improved throughout the day,’ he said.
Article posted on 31st May, 2008 - 11.57am
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