Barlow speeds to top kart title

In front of a huge crowd and visiting personnel from the McLaren F1 team, the Pett-based talent clinched the Kartmasters – the British Grand Prix of karting - over the PFi circuit at Brandon.

Barlow crashed out of the pre-final in spectacular fashion in 2010, but qualified on the front row for Saturday’s two preliminary heats in Lincolnshire.

Despite being squeezed out at the starts and losing places as the drivers on the inside line took advantage, he fought back to win both races and seal pole position for Sunday’s first final.

In a close race with Japan’s former World Finals Champion Ukyo Sasahara and Welshman James Singleton, Barlow emerged on top after staying cool and calm to outfox his rivals.

This gave him the Rye College student a second successive pole position - and the chance of adding the 2011 Junior Max title to the Mini Max crown he won in 2009.

Sasahara spun as he tried to go round the outside of Barlow in the opening corner, sending karts in all directions to avoid hitting him.

As the race progressed, the Superdry clothing-supported youngster began to assert his dominance over his rivals and a series of quick laps saw him pull clear.

The full article will appear in Friday’s Rye and Hastings Observers.