LLANDOW Kart Club got its 2012 race season under way on a typically chilly weekend, but 68 hardy souls – plus the hardier officials needed to run the meeting – braved the conditions to kick off the year in style.

The Bambino class got things under way with Shayne Clark making an early impression. After posting the fastest times of the early heats, the newcomer found Brooklyn and Oliver Thomas providing stiff opposition in the final, with the latter posting a 30.21secs best.

There was disappointment for the wonderfully-named Jett Woodfield, however, who failed to start either the third heat or the main event.

The Cadet classes, after a couple of seasons of enjoying their own races, were combined once again for the season-opener, but still produced a 21-kart field and some close racing. Lewis Griffiths claimed Comer honours, winning each of the three heats and cruising to victory in the final, ahead of Kieran Clarke and Ethan Rees.

The larger Honda contingent – the popular class providing 15 runners – went the way of Ross Thomas, who finished each heat in the top four before overcoming Stewart Ferguson and Celtic Cup champion Daniel Thomas by just 0.19secs in the final. Hugo Holmes and Alex Rees each enjoyed a class win in the heats, but wound up eighth and fifth respectively in the main event.

Honda Junior showed a slight increase in numbers over recent years, with four drivers – all novices – turning out for the opening round.

Ben Stevens proved to be the driver to beat, however, claiming victory in each of the four races, while Thomas Croydon and Tom Ford gave chase. The fourth runner, Ainsley Shea-Godden enjoyed a brief appearance in second place in heat three, but retired from the main event.

Combining Junior TKM and MiniMax produced another grid into double figures although, with only Jodie Handford appearing in the latter, attention focused on one class.

TKM proved to be the domain of one man, as Ross Chell dominated from start to finish but, behind him, Ryan Edwards and Joe Phillips did their best to keep pace. Each claimed second place in the heats, but it was Edwards, freshly graduated from Honda Cadet, who came out on top in the main event. Louis Beavan also got in on the act in the final, splitting Edwards and Phillips in the final result.

While one Handford had it all her own way in MiniMax, another was controlling the small Junior Rotax field, as older brother Steven took the opportunity to get a run out before the start of the national championships, and dominated all four races against novice opponents Oliver O’Flaherty, Thomas Stride and Elliot Hagerty.

A handful of new faces propelled the once-dominant Senior Honda class back into double figures, but no-one could prevent reigning champion Simon Evans from picking up where he left off in 2011. Having been defeated only four times in nearly 50 races last season, Evans got his title defence off to the perfect start with a clean sweep of heats and final.

Chief rival Gareth Lewis claimed second place in the opening heats and, after a brief interruption by Jamie Warren third time around, resumed normal service in the final. Veteran Paul Saunders claimed a brace of third places in the heats, but it was Danny Griffiths who filled the spot in the main event.

Senior Max numbers were slightly down on normal, but still provided twelve drivers to do battle in the fastest class. As he had on his debut last season, Josh Collings proved the man to beat, winning two heats and the final, whilst Matthew Dowers and Chris Davies shared the remaning top three positions between them.

Dowers won the remaining heat, but had to settle for second in the final, with reigning champion Davies completing the podium. Sebastian Hutchinson and Dave Entwhistle rounded out the top five, while novice Greg Davies gave a good account of himself.

Wayne Stone began the defence of his Max 177 class title with victory in two heats and the final against lone opponent Simon Wheeler.

RESULTS

BAMBINO

1. Oliver Thomas; 2. Shayne Clark; 3. Brooklyn Thomas

CADET COMER

1. Lewis Griffiths; 2. Kieran Clarke; 3. Ethan Rees

CADET HONDA

1. Ross Thomas; 2. Stuart Ferguson; 3. Daniel Thomas

JUNIOR HONDA

1. Ben Stevens; 2. Thomas Croydon; 3. Tom Ford

JUNIOR TKM

1. Ross Chell; 2. Ryan Edwards; 3. Louis Beaven

MINI MAX

1. Jodie Handford

JUNIOR ROTAX

1. Steven Handford; 2. Oliver O’Flaherty; 3. Thomas Stride

SENIOR HONDA

1. Simon Evans; 2. Gareth Lewis; 3. Danny Griffiths

SENIOR ROTAX

1. Josh Collings; 2. Chris Davies; 3. Matthew Dowers

ROTAX 177

1. Wayne Stone; 2. Simon Wheeler