Karting star’s success

Mar 11 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

MOTORSPORT fanatic Harry Macpherson lapped-up a podium finish at Knockhill in just his second season karting, writes Gordon Bannerman.

The 15-year-old Perth Academy youngster shared the Fife racing circuit’s Pro-Kart Championship with fellow teenager Craig Mayes from Dundee.

Around 40 kids are members of the Knockhill karting club and the championship was decided over a dozen races last season, split into cadet and older U16 teenage drivers.

At the end of a hotly contested series Burrelton karter Harry and defending champion Craig couldn’t be split, even on a countback of finishes. So they shared the silverware.

The youngsters thunder round Knockhill’s 500m floodlit karting track in Sodi GT2 gas powered karts at speeds up to 50mph, or zoom around in cadet karts at speeds touching 25mph.

Harry said: “The average lap time is 37 seconds but we usually manage 33 or 34 on a dry day.

“I got into karting through the ‘Karting for a Fiver’ scheme at Knockhill, sponsored by the Motor Sport Association (MSA).

“Because I enjoyed this, and have always loved motorsport, my dad, Alistair, bought me a membership to the karting club for Christmas.

“The fact that there were two champions this year shows how close the racing is. It's such a thrill to win the championship after just two years of racing.”