Ulster Cup starts this Saturday

In addition to the full compliment of junior and senior classes the incredible 160mph capable Superkarts will also be in action and with 0-100mph acceleration as fast as an F1 car then the day will be a spectacular opener to the season.

The Ulster Karting Club promoted round is also a round of the Northern Ireland championships and with the Ulster Championship on Easter Monday and Tuesday only a few weeks away all drivers will be keen to do well at the double header meeting.

As an indicator of how things might go, local drivers have remained in action over the Creightons of Finaghy supported winter series at Nutts Corner Circuit and the 500 MRCI series at Kirkistown.

The Honda Cadet class has really grown in recent times and at the last round at Nutts Corner had one of the largest grids of the day. On this occasion young Jack Graham from Ballymena was in firm control and a comfortable win was enough to see him secure the series. Second on the day was much closer with Castlereaghs Ryan Young managing to hold off pole driver William Harron from Bangor by only six thousandths of a second !

That literally translated into inches between the pair but it was important for Young as it was enough to see him secure second overall.

Consistency played its importance in the points tally for third overall and fourth on the day by Glenavys Jack McGaughey was just enough to see him hold onto the final podium spot.

Ballymoney drivers Chris and Philip Doherty also used the series to good effect to improve their talent with both drivers just finishing outside the top three for their efforts.

In the Comer Cadets, Kilreas Conor Shaw, the C plate champion was in storming form in the crucial points scoring finals with the championship win a possibility if he could win and hold back Dungannons Gary Donnelly and Adrian Hegarty from Toomebridge.

At Kirkistown it was Hegarty that managed to be the driver overall to beat with Creighton having to settle for second. Young Donnelly was once again in third overall and undoubtedly is showing that he is going to be a match for some of last years drivers.

The Mini Max class saw another terrific final on the day with past champion Kyle Price from Lisburn taking top spot from pole position. Stoneyfords Scott Finlay had the series lead to his credit at the start of the day but for the finals he was down in seventh with the potential to lose it should he be too far behind Price.

Credit must undoubtedly go to all the drivers, race organisers, paramedics and back up staff for their efforts over the winter and hopefully this Saturdays race will show that the grids are continuing to grow. Full points analysis from both race series can be seen at www.ulsterkartingclub.com and www.kirkistown.com.

The North of Ireland Karting Association (NIKA) has also recently announced the first part of the prize package for the 2010 NI Championships.

In Formula Cadet, Francis Walsh of Newtownabbey based J&F motorsports & Shox Race Engines are offering a full Comer engine rebuild (worth up to 300-400 not inc carriage)

J&F Motorsports are also offering a 25% discount on an Intrepid Storm kart to any Cadet (Comer or Honda) moving to Mini Max who has finishes in the top 5 of the 2010 NI Championship

In Formula Mini Max & Rotax Max, J&F motorsports & Dartford Karting are offering a full Rotax engine rebuild (worth up to 500-600 not inc carriage)

Prizes for other classes will be announced in due course