Alfie Briggs – “Ready For The Challenges Ahead”
Words: Jake Sanson Photography © Stu Stretton Media / BBM Sport
Alfie Briggs, the 11 year old Mini X30 kart racer from Banbury, has had a quick start to the 2020 season and the signs are good for a competitive campaign ahead.
Having won the Downforce Radio Keir Millar U13 Racer of the Year in 2016 and been top three in multiple club championships at Cadet level since then, Alfie’s 2020 campaign began at the Trent Valley Kart Club Winter Series at the world famous PF International circuit in Lincolnshire. As one of the top five fastest drivers in class all weekend and having briefly led the final, he has set the tone for what should be a strong 2020 season.
2019 saw Alfie Briggs finish 3rd in both the Whilton Mill and Shenington Kart Club championships, and still at the tender age of 11 Alfie heads into 2020 one of the favourites for British success in the hotly contested Mini X30 category.
“I’ve been fastest in practice a few times already this year, so we know we have one-lap pace,” says Alfie. “There have been a couple of errors on my side, but nothing I can’t cure with hard work and more practice.”
It’s not always been plain sailing as Storm Ciara hasn’t helped his season’s preparations after a race meeting at Hunts Kart Racing Club at Kimbolton.
“We were super fast all day on Saturday practice,” Alfie recalls. “Then we woke up on Sunday and found that Storm Ciara had arrived. We were all ready to hit the track the one of the marshall posts was blown over bringing electrical cables down! The officials cancelled the meeting, so Mum was happy but I wasn’t!”
Sensationally, Alfie has had a strong February of top 3 finishes despite a discomfort in his wrist finally being diagnosed last week as a broken wrist! It puts him out of the seat for a few weeks, but he’s already set his sights firmly on a competitive return.
“I’m a little frustrated about my wrist,” he tells us. “The cast is irritating but I don’t really have a choice. Fingers crossed I’ll be back out in time for the third round of the Whilton Mill Kart Club Championship, especially now I’m second in the title race. I don’t want to miss a single lap!
“Overall though I’ve had a good start to the year,” Alfie continues. “I’ve been working with Andy Key from Fit 4 Performance which will make a massive difference to me this year. We went through the next stage of my fitness programme – focusing on how to keep my performance on Saturday practice going through until Sunday’s races. There’s plenty to put into practice and I’m ready for the challenges ahead.”
