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West Norfolk karting ace suffers first accident




Novice kart racer Jenson Sayell was in action again at the weekend, joining the 32 kart IAME Cadet grid at Whilton Mill’s FastR round six.

The aim was to gain more big grid experience and to finish in the top 20 karts from the back of the grid.

He achieved both aims but also experienced his first Cadet accident.

Jenson Sayell (57627627)
Jenson Sayell (57627627)

The format was practice and heat one on Saturday followed by heats two and three and a final on Sunday. Saturday practice went well with competitive mid-field times.

Sayell started 30th for heat one and made up 10 places in the first four laps. As the race progressed he got up to 19th, dropped to 21st and fought back to cross the line in 20th.

Post race he went up to 18th after other karts got dropped nose penalties.

Sunday’s three-lap practice was going well with Sayell showing 13th fastest on timings but disaster came on lap two when Sayell was involved in a four-kart accident.

Lincolnshire karter Katie Clarke spun in front of Sayell, with him hitting the tyre wall whilst avoiding her, two more karts also following in.

All four drivers checked out okay and the race was on to get karts fixed for heat two.

Replacing steering arms and checking the kart over, the team made the grid for the race by just seconds.

Undeterred, young Sayell started 30th and was very happy to finish 15th but had been pushed into the kart in front on the rolling lap and ultimately was one of nine drivers to get five-second penalties and was relegated to 20th.

Heat three of the weekend saw him start 32nd, making up 14 places to finish 18th. He was second highest Novice.

Heat results qualified Sayell 20th for the final. He had a solid mid-race, getting up to 18th at one point, eventually finishing 19th.

Sayell was disappointed with this, feeling he should have placed higher.

Dad Rob was pleased with his pace and Jenson’s driving, saying: “Jenson’s accident was a big shunt doing around 50 mph when he went off. He swerved to avoid Katie and hit the tyres very hard.

“He showed true grit to get back out and get up to 15th, so it was a shame about the dropped nose penalty but being pushed into the kart in front on the rolling start is common.

“Jenson had a bruised elbow and a sore neck on Monday – they do wear neck protection but he was thrown about in the force of the impact.

“Accident aside, we did all we wanted to achieve over the weekend, he just needs more track time at Whilton.”

The team have a couple of weeks rest now before returning to Fulbeck to continue the bid for the Sprint Series championship.

Sayell is currently second just four points behind McGrath in the overall standings.



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