Kenzo Craigie and Ethan Jeff-Hall made it a double success for the UK at the FIA Karting World Championships, clinching dramatic titles in the OK-Junior and OK Class at PF International.

After a dry weekend, the rain hammered down for Sunday’s finals. Ramping up the difficulty of the competition, the rain brought dramatic outcomes in the closing moments of each Final.

Britain’s Joe Turney lost out on the OK title with a mistake on the final lap, leaving his young compatriot Jeff-Hall to take the win, while Noah Baglin (GBR) ran off the track after making contact with Craigie a few metres from the finish line, having led the OK-Junior race for 18 laps.

OK

Britain’s Joe Turney continued his perfect run ahead of the Final by winning Super Heat A in the dry by a considerable margin, while Fionn Mclaughlin (IRL) won Super Heat B in the wet. Turney went on to lead 21 of the 22 laps of the Final, but there was more drama to come before the chequered flag fell.

As the number of off-track excursions and incidents increased, Matthew Higgins (GBR) gave up second place to a hard-charging Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR). Jeff-Hall made a serious comeback on Turney, who was holding him off by just 6 tenths until the last fateful lap. Turney switched off slightly and went wide at the turn three banking. Jeff-Hall didn’t need any encouragement and rushed through to snatch the victory.

Familiar with Rotax competitions, Jeff-Hall made a discreet debut in the OK category last August at the European Championship in Kristianstad. His world title echoes that of Danny Keirle, who won his first OK title in 2017 at PFI. Higgins completed a 100% British podium ahead of Jimmy Hélias (FRA), who was solid throughout the meeting.

OK Junior

Ahead of the OK Junior Final, Niklas Schaufler (AUT) and Kit Belofsky (GBR) were the in-form drivers winning the Super Heats on Sunday morning. Soon after the lights went out for the last time, Noah Baglin replaced Schaufler at the head of the race from the second lap. Seemingly enjoying the challenge of increasingly wet conditions, Kenzo Craigie (GBR) set off in pursuit shortly after the halfway point and found himself in Baglin’s wheel tracks on the penultimate lap. The last lap saw a spectacular battle between the two drivers and it was a pity for the race-long leader that contact in the last corner resulted in Baglin’s retirement a few metres from the finish. James Anagnostiadis (AUS) finished second ahead of Schaufler, who was delayed by a 360° slide and was later disqualified. Rocco Coronel (NLD) inherited third place after the podium, after moving up eight places. Despite a 10-second penalty, Belofsky was classified fourth ahead of Zac Green (GBR).

OK-N

After a bright start that saw him secure pole, Harrison Whitticombe rounded out the qualification in fourth heading into the final.

He came through in fifth as Kyuho Lee of Korea took the title. He was followed by Zsombor Kovacs (HUN) and Heitor Dall Agnol Farias from Brazil.