GP Website report

The amazing success of the revived British Superkart Grand Prix took many of us by surprise. Motor Circuits do not normally reveal attendance figures, but the evidence for everyone to see was that this was by far the biggest attendance at an all-kart meeting in the UK for very many years.

Jonathan Palmer and Motor Sports Vision certainly hit the right spot with their advertising and marketing programme and the good folk of Lincolnshire and surrounding areas turned out in droves. 

It was also of note that even after the rains came many of the large crowd stayed right through to the end. It was most heartening for all who had worked so hard to put on the event.

On track we were well supported by the overseas drivers. 16 German drivers were joined by drivers from Holland,  France, Sweden, Denmark,  Norway and a Belgian driver now living in Switzerland, Vincent Caro the Executive Secretary General of the CIK-FIA no less.

They were not the only opposition for the mainland Brits. From elsewhere in the British Isles we had drivers from Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland and of course, Jersey in the Channel Islands.

We had two former World Champions on view, Perry Grondstra from Holland and Trevor Roberts from Northern Ireland. Yes, Perry Grondstra really does race with a white shirt and tie beneath his racing leathers, even in the sweltering here at at Cadwell.

The Division One Superkarts were obviously the principal attraction but at the other end of the scale the 125 ICC youngsters most of whom were making their Long Circuit racing debuts also put on some superb racing. 

The overseas visitors were loud in their praise of the warm welcome they felt they had all received and many drivers making their Cadwell Park debuts rated the Mountain Circuit the most exhilarating they had ever raced on.

Regular British drivers also relished the opportunity to race in front of a large and appreciative crowd.

Jonathan Palmer is keen to establish Cadwell Park as the home of the British Superkart Grand Prix. As he flew in by helicopter, he saw the huge crowd enjoying the racing in hot sunshine and his first impressions must have been favourable.

Ian Rushforth has had a vision for a few years of a revived British Superkart Grand Prix involving the best of the British drivers competing with the best from many other nations. It took much painstaking hard work, anxiety, financial outlay and heartache to reach fruition. In the final analysis, the exercise was a resounding success. Thanks to all of you that played your part however large or small.

Ken Walker