LINES TAKES CLEAN SWEEP ON WHILTON MILL CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN

Finlay Lines had to work hard to take his seventh win of the year, as he came out on top in the Final of the opening round of the 2024 Whilton Mill Kart Club Championship.

Having secured the 2023 championship at the Northamptonshire venue, Lines returned as the reigning champion against a new field of challengers in the Rotax Mini (Inter) class, where he faced thirty-three other drivers across the two days.

Setting the fastest time in Qualifying on Saturday, the Synergy Kart driver started heat one from pole position. As he took the lead into turn one, the heat race was disrupted after several drivers made contact into turn two on the opening lap.

With the Battenburg flag flying, the karting equivalent of a safety car period, racing resumed with just under four minutes left, of the eight-minute plus one-lap race.

Lines held the lead initially; however, he fell to second place after a robust overtake from his rival. Not to be denied, the Maximum Motorsport driver retook the lead on the last lap to take the heat race win.

Starting from pole position for heat two, Lines was unchallenged as he took the lead into the first turn, staying out front to take his second heat race win of the day.

Thanks to scoring maximum points from his two heat race wins, the Staffordshire-based driver would start from pole position in the all-important Final.

From the start of the twelve-minute plus one-lap race, Lines fell back to third place on the opening lap and found himself involved in a four-way fight for the lead.

The Maximum Motorsport Driver fought back to take the lead with eight minutes left on the clock, being pushed hard by his three rivals.

As the final continued, places changed between the four drivers as they continued to fight for the lead.

Despite falling to third place at one stage, the Maximum Motorsport Driver used his head and regained places when the opportunity arose.

He then took the lead on lap eleven and stayed out front for the remaining three laps, taking the victory by over a second.

Lines will be back in action next weekend as he competes in the opening round of the 2024 Wera Tools British Kart Championships, starting with the Rotax and Honda O Plate competition, which also takes place at Whilton Mill.