TWO of Guernsey’s top motor sport prospects are to participate in a Formula BMW UK Championship licence course. Matthew Corson, 19, and 15-year-old Chris Law are travelling to Valencia at the end of the month for the two-day course for which Andy Priaulx will be one of the instructors.

‘When talking to Andy, he suggested a licence course for the boys to introduce them to single-seater racing,’ said Dave Corson, kart captain of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club and father of Matthew.

‘It is a very professionally run course. It is something which, with the level of input BMW have, they obviously take very seriously.

‘They run two of them a year and take 16 people between the ages of 15 and 25. It is not often you get this sort of opportunity.’

The two intensive days include theory work on various aspects of motor sport such as shifting, braking and racing line as well as the practical sessions of driving.

Successful participation in the course entitles GB residents to apply for a National Racing B licence.

For Law, there is an added incentive.

The best drivers born between 1989 and 1991 will be allowed to participate in the Formula BMW UK Scholarship qualifying in which the best five will be promoted with sponsorship worth £35,000.

Meanwhile, two other young Sarnian karters have both gained valuable experience in racing off the island for the first time.

Twelve-year-old Daniel Ridley and Kasey Watson (11) entered an RAF meeting at Little Rissington in the Cotswolds on a track more than twice the size of their local circuit with very fast- flowing corners.

Both drove well in the heats and final, but were up against some very quick local youngsters.

The following weekend they both travelled to Jersey for a two-day meeting to celebrate 50 years of karting in our sister island.

Saturday morning consisted of practice sessions, followed by the first two heats of the weekend, both won by Ridley with Watson lower down the order.

At the end of the afternoon, the Guernsey boys joined forces to win the team event.

After a quick practice session on the Sunday morning, the heavens opened and the final two heats were completed in very wet conditions.

Heat three saw Ridley spin and hit the kerb ending up with a bent axle and a three-sided wheel.

Watson spun a couple of times but was able to make up two places. Heat four was won by Ridley.

A one-hour lunch break was taken to try and allow the track to dry and the final was held in near-perfect conditions. Ridley started on pole position with Watson in fourth.

Not a great deal of the track is visible from the pit area, but a good start saw Ridley reappear over the brow of the hill in first place with Watson very close behind after a great first lap.

The two Guernsey boys stayed together for five or six laps until Watson was overtaken.

On the next lap a Jersey kart spun on Paddock Bend also causing Watson to spin and drop down to the back of the race.

However, he gained places quickly to finish fifth as Ridley won in great style.