DARREN KONKEN has been named the NSEW-sponsored Sports Commission Sports Personality for May. The top kart racer is enjoying a fantastic season and after three rounds he sits top of the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club’s summer series. The 17-year-old Grammar School student this year also set a new hill climb record last month.

As was the case with the inaugural April winner, table tennis star Alice Loveridge, Konken receives £100 for his achievement restricted to sportsmen and women under-25.

He held off stiff competition from Thomas Jardine, 16, who won the 36-holes Guernsey Golf Classic and hurdler Kylie Robilliard, who is also having a top season.

‘From a club point of view we are really proud of Darren of what he has done,’ said Kart captain Dave Corson.

‘He has lowered the hill climb record and down at the Track, he is definitely the one to beat at the moment.’

Konken started karting five years ago. In his junior days he won two championships.

At the May bank holiday Monday hill climb at Le Val des Terres, Konken broke his own record in the formula libre and senior fixed gear class up to 125cc with a time of 30.78sec. In March he also posted the fastest lap in the 100 senior libre class, going round the Track in 19.10sec.

‘I just love karting, I love all motor sports’ he said.

‘I’m going alright at the moment. Hopefully I’ll win the series but the competition is so good.

‘It will be hard to pull it off.’

His younger brother William Konken, 14, is also turning heads in the 100 junior category where he was lying in second place going into the weekend’s meeting.

Karting on the island is growing in popularity as more racers like the Konkens, take the sport up an earlier age.

These days seven competitors regularly take part in the 125/250 gearbox class, whereas only three featured in last year’s competition.

‘We believe it’s definitely on the up,’ said Corson.

‘We’re very excited about the amount coming through in the cadet class and that will feed up. The media puts us in a good spotlight, there’s a good family atmosphere down at the Track, everyone helps each other and with Matt Ford taking over the hire karts it’s exposed the sport to a wider audience.’