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Protrain Team Event

Protrain Team Event

5th July was a great day for the Protrain Team.

Hiring the Whilton Mill track for the 11 of our drivers used the time to maximum benefit.

Drivers continued to be coached by their race engineers and the team managers, and added "follow me leader" by experienced ex drivers Joe Ahrens and Whilton Mill winner Nathan Amess, for the Rotax drivers and Championship leader Hugh Roach in Cadets.

They were joined on track by many parents who soon found out they were better off leaving the driving to their children!!!!

With over 30 participants it was a massively fun and enjoyable day benefiting all that took part.

We look forward to the next one!!!

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Luke Taylor Wins again at Kimbolton

Luke Taylor Wins again at Kimbolton

Following Luke's brilliant success at the Anglian Championships, Luke secured another great victory.

The racing was even harder with British Championship rivals, but it did not faze Luke, who made the most of difficult track conditions to move from third in timed qualifying to victory.

The day once again started with timed practice where Luke secured 3rd position after leading for much of the session.  From 3rd in the heats Luke showed amazing skill at the first corner to gain places and battled with Ty Stansfield for the victory, which he deserved but when gaining the lead Ty took a short cut and was not pennalised - amazing......

Heat 2 followed a similar pattern with Luke finishing just .2s behind.

Lining up in second for the final Luke was determined for victory.  A difficult first corner on the outside, Luke dropped places but his ability on a slippery corner meant he took the lead on the second lap and was never headed, pulling out over 4 seconds on second place.  A great well deserved victory.

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Luke Taylor continues Protrain’s success at Kimbolton with Anglian Championship victory

We all thought April was great for Luke Taylor at Kimbolton with a new track lap record and third place, but at the Anglian Championships Luke drove superbly to take a well deserved victory.

Like the April victorious Jack Collins, Luke only started racing at the end of April 2021 following the final lockdown.  He progressed well in Juniors but really started to shine with a movement into Senior X30 in February.  Taking to the increased engine power and higher grip tyres, Luke has not looked back.

April was a great month for him with personal bests at Shenington and Whilton Mill, the highlight of the month was the new track lap record of 39.87s at Kimbolton and third place and a podium in the final.

This month, in the Anglian Championship race meeting timed qualifying was used to set the grid positions.  Luke drove from the front to secure pole position for his first heat.  This he won and followed up with third in the second heat.

A hard fought Pre Final put Luke on 3rd for the final.  After a tremendous first lap Luke took the lead and left the rest to dice for second.  Pullong out 2.14s by the finish Luke took his first of many victories.

We look forward to a great future for him.

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Jack Collins Wins at Kimbolton

In just under a year Jack Collins has managed to go from starting karting to winning his first race meeting an amazing feat, congratulations Jack.  Competing against 18 other experienced drivers, with two 1st places and a 3rd in his heats, Jack easily secured pole position for the final.

Never headed, Jack went on to win by a fantastic 5.87s and earning his deserved first victory.

We look forward to more success for this talented driver.

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Former Protrain Driver Jack Aitken starts his first F1 GP for Williams GP in Bahrain

Jack Aitken first raced with us in 2009 at Kartmasters GP and then went on to compete in the 3rd round of the European Championships in Czech Republic.

2010 was his most successful year with us, finishing second to George Russell!!! in the Super One National Championships in Mini Max, winning at Buckmore Park and out scoring George but second with dropped rounds.

Continuing a great season in 2010 Jack finished second in the Junior Rotax Max European Championships winning the final round at Genk, Belgium.

This qualified him for the World Finals in Italy where he qualified on pole position, won every heat and the pre final only to crash out whilst fighting for the lead in the final but setting fastest lap.

Jack had a great two seasons with us with numerous club and national victories, often racing in Mini Max and Junior Max in the same meeting and winning both.  His last race with us was at the European Championships in Senior Max in 2012 where he made a brief comeback to karting after car racing, he qualified on second pole, had issues in the heats putting him in the reprecharge final, winning that qualified him to the back of the main final, which he drove majestically through the 34 kart field to 7th overall.

Image credit: Wikipedia

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Protrain develop karting in Rwanda with FIA President Jean Todt

The FIA launched a project to develop karting in Rwanda and asked Protrain as leaders in this field, through the UK MSA, to carry out this exciting scheme.

The project started in 2017 and ten Biz karts were sent out to Rwanda in preparation for the Protrain team to fly out and introduce karting to the Rwandans.

Our first job was to assemble the karts whilst teaching and instructing on how best to assemble them and most importantly how they will need to be maintained for the future. Jim Jones took on responsibility for this and taught over 10 Africans all the most important techniques and factors.

Jim was helped by Steve Deeks who worked closely with the personnel that would be driving and controlling the racing. Both held workshops explaining all the complexities of kart racing and helping the Rwandans understand the sport and take it forwards in their country.

The training project corresponded with the African FIA Congress and the Protrain team were pleased to be joined by the hierarchy of most of the governing bodies of motorsport from around the world including our own MSA and Jean Todt, the FIA President himself.

After seeing many Rwandans taking immense joy from driving a kart, the next highlight was getting Jean Todt into a kart for a drive.

The team left having imparted immense knowledge into the locals and we look forward to hearing of the development of our sport in this massively developing country.

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Harry McQuillan 4th in Super One

Despite not competing in the last round of the Championships, Harry McQuillan was proud to finish 4th overall in the ABkC Super One National Championships in Junior X30.

Harry raced with Protrain in Junior Max during 2015 and moved to the Junior X30 class for 2016. Despite not driving until the first round, Harry immediately took to the class and showed fantastic pace from the start. Success throughout the year produced this wonderful result for a great driver.

The final round of the Championship was at the Formula One level PF International circuit with its modern facilities and demanding track layout. Protrain were represented by Reggie Duhy, just out of cadets and fresh from victory in one of his first Junior X30 races at the famous Midland Championships. Reggie continued his rapid pace from that race meeting. After a confusing timed qualifying when after dominating practice by almost .5s, Reggie only qualified 7th. An adjustment in tyre pressures soon rectified Reggie's pace and throughout the meeting he set fastest lap, after fastest lap to show his tremendous ability. Finishing in the top three all the time, only nose penalties prevented this exciting Junior driver from victory in his first National Championship X30 meeting.

Team Manager Jason Dredge said "Reggie was superb all weekend and deserved victory, but he will bounce back and we look forward to showing the karting world what this talented driver has to offer".

Reggie looks forward to the LGM at PF International this weekend.

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Harry McQuillan Stars in Super 1 Junior X30 at GYG

Leading until the last corner with a lap to go Harry almost secured his maiden S1 victory at the GYG circuit in North Wales.

The second round of the Super One National Championships was held at the flowing North Wales circuit.  Protrain were represented by Harry McQuillan and Charlie Turner in Junior and Senior X30.

Testing had gone well the week before and the team were looking forward to a successful weekend.  This was confirmed with third for both drivers in timed practice.  The heats continued in the same vain with both drivers finishing third and achieving grid 3 for the first final.

Harry was out first and had a brilliant race.  From third Harry quickly moved into second and set about taking the lead.  This he did at the end of the main straight.  Leading for most of the race Harry lost the lead on the last but one lap to gain a great second place only to be penalised for a slightly moved front bumper.  10th was definitely not what he deserved after leading and setting fastest lap.

The second final saw a determined Harry, after a starting incident dropped him to 13th, Harry set about demolishing the field.  Unfortunately by the time he got into second the leader had a 4 second lead but Harry still managed to drop this to ½ second by the finish, a great drive with once again fastest lap.

Charlie had incidents in his finals but was always well on the pace and produced great 6th and 4th finishes to maintain his championship push.

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Luke Richardson wins at Shenington just 3 meetings off novice plates!!

It was a fantastic race meeting at Shenington on February 14th 2016. The young talented driver who has only completed in 8 race meetings was the star driver in the Protrain team.

Racing in Rotax Mini Max Luke starting third came through to second with fastest lap and started the day as he meant to carry on, showing his competitors he was the one to beat.

Starting further back in his second heat, Luke soon came through the field once again setting fastest lap and moving up to second once again and securing third grid position for the final a fantastic opportunity to use his speed.

Neatly moving into second on the third lap Luke patiently tracked down the leader. Then effortlessly he moved into the lead on lap 9. He was pursued and second did try a couple on manoeuvres at the Stratford corner but Luke had it all under control and swiftly retook the lead as the driver drifted wide. The front two were then joined by the third placed driver, putting pressure on second, allowed Luke to eke out a gap and to big cheers from the grandstand win his first ever race and take home the main trophy.

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