Shields storms to first Junior Prokart win
Image © Karting Everything
2021 brought some brand new classes for the Cadet Kart Championship, one of them being the Junior Pro karts. This class uses the same RPM GX200 engine as the cadet classes, but using larger prokart chassis with 2 engines on each kart. The idea, is to provide a low cost route into junior racing.
The opening round at Whilton Mill saw 6 drivers take to the track, on their own grid. It was clear, from the start of the opening race that there was a clear favourite in this class. That being the #181 of Maximum Shields.
He toped Saturday’s qualifying session, but only just. His time of 51.825 gave him just 0.044s over Sebastian Parreira. Row 2 would feature Krystian Oblag and Connor McCarthy while the final row would be Caitlin Frame and Sandro Ballesteros, who was pulling double duty in the Junior Rotax field later in the day.
When the lights went out for heat 1, Shields jumped off the start to an early lead. He was chased hard in the opening laps by Parreira, but a small mistake gave Shields a 1 second lead. McCarthy also managed to get through passed Oblag in the early laps, but Oblag regained the place in the closing laps. At the front, Shields notched up their first win of the weekend, with Parreira and Oblag completing the top 3.
The 2nd heat’s grid was the result of heat 1, giving Shields the chance to pick up where he left off. The problem, is drops of rain were starting to fall as the race went green. Shields scampered off into the distance, quickly gaining a multiple second advantage over Frame, who had made a mega start to run 2nd. She would get caught by McCarthy and Ballesteros by half distance, with Oblag squeezing past with 3 to go. But by the time McCarthy had moved into 2nd, there was no catching Shields, who scored their 2nd win of the weekend.
Sadly, due to delays, the third race of the weekend would be the shortened final with Shields and McCarthy sharing the front row, Oblag and Ballesteros on row 2 with Parreira and Frame completing the grid.
When the lights went out, Frame made a good start to move up to 4th early on, loosing a place to Oblag at the boot. At the front, Shields had a challenge on his hand. McCarthy and Ballesteros were glued to his rear bumper this time, meaning he would have to fight for this win.
Ballesteros spent a few laps lining up McCarthy, then made his move. He threw his JKC machine down the inside at the boot, with the pair going through pits bend side by side, crossing the line side by side. Eventually, Ballesteros completed the move through Oblivion, but by this time, Shields was away in the distance.
Despite the duo closing in, they simply ran out of laps. Shields crossed the line to win the first junior pro kart round of the year. Ballesteros came home in 2nd with McCarthy completing the top 3. Behind, Oblag finished 4th with Frame the last of the runners.
That leaves Shields with a 6 point lead in the championship over McCarthy, who in turn has a single point over Ballesteros, while Oblag is a further point back. The next round for the Junior Pro karts will see them head to Lydd on June 6th.
