Awards night next weekend

The Northern Ireland Karting Championships and the Ulster Karting Club championships have drawn to a close with the final round recently at Nutts Corner Circuit with many classes going right to the final race of the day for championship deciders.

Prokarts had something of a difficult year which was unfortunate given that it had been such a huge class only a few years back.

In the end, Gilford’s Nigel Stewart went on to dominate and secure another Ulster championship. The final race of the season saw Mark Murphy make the most of Stewart sitting out the final round and straight wins saw him take second just ahead of Crumlin’s Stan Woods and Coleraine’s Martin Culbertson.

World Formula has once again been the main-stay non-gearbox class in the province and in the early races Robert Devenney and defending NI champion Daniel Conlon from Dollingstown swapped the lead a number of times. By mid season though Devenney started to edge ahead although it was only towards the end that it looked like Devenney might just hold off the challenge.

After winning the Gran Prix, Devenney got an extra shot in the arm and going into the final meeting he did have the edge. Third was still far from secure with Dromore’s David Lilburn, Waringstown’s Peter Caldwell and Dromara’s David Johnstone all eager to get onto the final podium.

The final race meeting saw Devenney take two seconds in heats and that was enough to see him secure the Ulster Championships. That let Devenney sit out the final race of the day to get ready for the very final race for the Gary Ireland Memorial trophy which is seen by many as important as winning the Grand Prix.

Apart from the November awards ceremony, the next big events as such in the sport will be the 500MRCI karting section second round to their winter series at their Kirkistown base on 8th December followed by the Ulster Karting Club promoted Winter Cup at Nutts Corner on Thursday 27th December.