GREG ROBERT enjoyed his debut meeting in the European Superkart Championship at Magny Cours, although he failed to finish the opening race of two on the Formula One track. ‘It was quite an experience driving on an F1 track,’ said Robert, who qualified 35th from an international field of 45.

In race one, he was hit on the third lap, spun round and stalled.

Unable to get the kart going, he was forced out.

But, in the second race, he climbed to 30th and was pleased that ‘there were not many fellow Brits ahead’.

Meanwhile, in Guernsey the opening meeting of the new karting season was well supported, with 24 drivers in total.

First out on the track were the cadets and of the four drivers Adam Law dominated, winning all four races.

Although just nine he by far the most experienced in this class, having already had a full season in Guernsey, plus some UK meetings under his belt.

Two of his rivals, Sheldon Davey and Kasey Watson, were making their race debut, while the other, Daniel Ridley, still needs a couple of races to qualify for his full licence.

In the junior 100 and junior max class, reigning champion Darren Konken chalked up three wins, including the final.

The first heat saw a comfortable win for Chris Law from James Williams, the latter keen to show that the Rotax Max is not there just to make up the number.

Heat two saw Daniel Pollmer lead early on but Konken’s overtaking skills soon brought him to the front.

Pollmer had to settle for second from Daniel James, William Konken and Williams.

Law had crossed the line fourth but was demoted two places by race stewards due to a last-corner incident with Prevel.

Heat three saw Konken win from the front ahead of James and Law, the latter two putting on a good display of fast, safe driving.

For the final the first three on the grid were the same three who were going for the championship at the final meeting last year, Konken, Law and James.

But Konken won again from Law, who shadowed him all the way.

James took third from Pollmer, Williams, Prevel, William Konken and Kieran Jones, the latter making his karting debut and looking fast in practice.

Encouragingly, 11 drivers figured in the senior 100 libre class where the story was Matt Corson, competing in his first senior meeting, taking two wins.

He was, however, helped considerably by some of the more fancied drivers falling over each other.

Heat one Colin Laine led initially from Corson, but by the flag, Andrew Ward was second ahead of Corson, closely followed by Alex Rosamond and Martyn Lowe.

In heat two it was Ward’s turn to lead all the way with Laine coming through to second ahead of Paul Buckingham, Lowe and Rosamond.

Race three saw Buckingham initially lead from Lowe, Laine and Gary Mourant, but Laine moved into second and the race between the top two became too intense for their own good.

On lap six, both went off and by this time Lowe was also out with a broken chain.

Corson found himself in the lead from Ward and Rosamond and the former handled the pressure well to record his first senior win.

For the finalthe two championship favourites, Ward and Laine, were on the front row.

The question was how long they could stay on the same track together.

The answer came at the second corner when they touched and Corson found himself at the front from Ward, who recovered well from the early incident.

Corson had another 19 laps to keep ahead of Ward but he did for a good win.

Meanwhile, Rosamond and Buckingham’s race-long duel ended on lap 12 when they touched.

Buckingham recovered, though, to claim third place from Lowe, Keith Lanyon and Rosamond.