YOUNORMALLY EXPECT

an Essex lad celebrating his 18th birthday to go cruising down Romford High Street with his mates rather than around the outskirts of a slightly – smelly industrial estate in Corby.

Even so, Alex Lynn was pretty happy with his landmark weekend at Rockingham. He took yet another pole and win on Sunday, and was genuinely pleased for his pal, Fortec Motorsport team-mate Oliver Rowland, who broke his series duck with a victory in the opening race.

This was a race that Lynn fumbled when he outbraked himself on his first flying lap in qualifying and got marooned on the grass —and consigned to last on the grid. He charged to fifth in the race, before spinning off at Pif – Paf and dropping to the tail of the field again.

But Lynnabsence from the front should not detract from a beautiful drive from Rowland, who has endured personal tragedy lately. His father died suddenly last year, and his old mentor Martin Hines —who became like a second dad to Rowland and also brought him in to help run his Zip cadet kart team —was laid to rest on the day before the

Rockingham meeting began. RowlandRacing Steps Foundation – backed car carried a sticker saluting Karting’, and the manner of his crushing 10 – second victory would have made Hines —and Rowland Sr —proud.

Rowland wins his first one for Karting’Rowland chased Lynn throughout race two, finishing less than a second down after the duo had traded fastest laps (Lynn got the verdict).

Due to Lynnmistakes, Tio Ellinas was able to trim the points gap with a brace of third places for Atech Reid GP. In the first race the Cypriot was the first of a long line held up by Australian Mitchell Gilbert, who did well to qualify his Fortec machine on the front row. Gilbert was less happy with his car in the race, but was too strong on the brakes for Ellinas to dislodge him.

Ellinasteam-mate Jack Hawksworth bounced back from a nightmare first race —bad balance in qualifying, then taking out Josh Hill on lap one —to shadow Ellinas home in race two. Dan Cammish, still badly lacking 011 track time, continued his strong progress to claim a brace of fifths with Mark Burdett Motorsport,

although was headed in race one by AtechDan Wells. Salisbury supermarket – shelf stacker Wells was delighted to plant himself on row two, and even happier to hang onto fourth in the race.

Jack Goff took a double in the Clio Cup races, which were notable for Team Pyrofirst – ever 1-2-3 finish in race one. Goff was challenged hard by Josh Files (fresh from taking his TR6 to second place in a Nurburgring Nordschleife enduro the previous weekend!), with Aron Smith wriggling through to third.

They were also notable for an incredible bunching – up of points heading into the final round. Irishman Smith took fifth in race two and has moved to the top, but James Dixon, Paul Rivett and James Colburn are all within four points!

Rivett lost his advantage thanks to a heat shield falling off and causing a fire in qualifying. He started near the back, and raced to seventh and eighth —including a brilliant move on Adam Bonham in race one that took half a lap.

Dixon and Colburn were again podium finishers this time out, while Jake Packun and Luke Wright challenged the front men (when they werencolliding in race one) and took a fourth apiece. Bravo too to debutant Ant Whorton – Eales, who passed Rivett in race two to cap a fine weekend, the first 011 slick tyres for a lad who is obviously no respecter of reputations.