Oram-Jones Breaks Duck At Wigan
press release
Samuel Oram-Jones put in a spectacular performance in rounds nine and ten of the Formula Kart Stars (FKS - the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone Formula One Management-backed series) meeting at Wigan last weekend and came away with his very first national class victory.
pic - Chris Walker - www.kartpix.net
Sammy, who races in the FKS MiniMax class for 11-16 year olds, warmed up with the twelfth best time in qualifying for the ninth round, before battling his way up to eighth in the opening heat in his KR-Sport Racing Team-run kart and then taking sixth in heat two.
The youngster then put in a brilliant performance in the round nine finale of the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone Formula One Management-backed series moving up to first on the third lap.
Although he then slipped back, he remained in the ten kart pack at the front throughout and the 12-year-old eventually snatched the lead on the final tour, 50 metres from the start-finish line, out dragging one of his rivals to claim his first ever FKS victory.
“I was really, really happy to get that win,” said Sammy, who couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “It is amazing. The kart was perfect. This is the first time we have been to this track, but as soon as we got here and got the set-up sorted we were really, really competitive.
“We know now that we can win and that we can do it. This victory has really given me a big boost.”
pic - Chris Walker - www.kartpix.net
The next day was another good one for Sammy and buoyed by his victory he was third in the second FKS MiniMax qualifying session, just 0.04 seconds off P2 and only 0.11 seconds off pole.
He then maintained that momentum in the heats, finishing fifth in both races, before again challenging at the front in the round ten finale. This time though, he unfortunately couldn’t match his round nine win, after one of his competitors made an overly ambitious move halfway through at Paddock Bend and effectively compromised both of their races.
As usual though, Sammy didn’t give up and having dropped to tenth, he recovered and took another fifth, less than a second behind the eventual winner.
“The final today could have been better. I lost out when I got lunged at and a bunch of other people came through on me. But then I brought it back and I was right behind fourth at the end,” Sammy continued.
“I am still happy. This has been the best weekend of the year for me. We scored the most points and we got ourselves a win.
“We have definitely moved forward in the championship and on dropped scores we are probably up there with eighth or seventh.”
Sammy now has a weekend off before the next and last round of the Super One Rotax Series (October 9-10), which is also at Wigan - albeit using a different configuration of the Three Sisters Race Circuit. Following that there is no let up as it is straight on to Ellough Park seven days later for the final rounds of the Formula Kart Stars (FKS) series (October 15-17).
Sammy is feeling bullish about those events: “Super One coming up is again at Wigan and although the circuit will change a bit as we will use the Valley layout, it will be great to go back there so soon - especially off the back of what we have done this weekend.
“After that we have the final two rounds of the Stars. Ellough Park is a brand new fixture this season and I have never been there before. But considering we had never been to Wigan prior to this weekend either and we won, I’m not really worried. I’m sure we will be okay.”
Sammy’s father and manager, Emil, meanwhile added that he was ‘proud’ to see his son get the win: “It was a really pleasing weekend. It is Sammy’s first victory at national level. He has had other wins but we are really, really chuffed with this one. It is a special moment,” he summed-up.
“It has been a long time coming. He has been very unlucky this year. But this weekend it all came together. The confidence was always there. It was just the luck that was missing.
“It was great to have a weekend where every single thing from a mechanical perspective worked well. It would have been nice to get a second win but I guess you can’t be too greedy. Besides three fifths on Sunday was still great. The consistency of the scoring is very important for the championship. We have no complaints
“A lot of people said Sammy’s victory on Saturday wasn’t only a good win but they also said it was the best race they had seen all season because it was proper, proper racing.
“It was really hardcore racing and for me to see him come through and triumph was just brilliant. I am very proud.
“Fingers crossed we can have similar weekends now in the two remaining events of the year.”
