Round 1 – Kimbolton – 210Challenge

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April 12th Kimbolton Round 1
Incorporating the 2026 ‘O’ Plate and
Round 1 of the Supa 60’s

A packed grid fired up Round 1 of the 210 Challenge at Kimbolton, and it was a real pleasure to welcome Mick Newman (81) back for his first outing with us in many years. We also introduced a fresh name to the roster, with Ian Taylor (28) stepping in as our Novice after gaining previous experience in the class. The headline surprise, though, was 18-year-old Harry Morris (41), who takes over from Rob Perkins in the seat for this year’s Championship. It’s a neat full-circle moment: 30 years ago, Rob put Harry’s father Chris in the seat Chris went on to win the GP and earn the seeded No. 1 spot in the 210 class.

Heat 1 opened the 210 Challenge in cool, dry conditions with a standing start for the Villiers-powered field. Harry Morris nailed the launch and broke clear at lights-out. Behind, David Smith briefly held P2 before Dan Bury moved up, but Lionel Sifleet starting 11^th was flying, sweeping around the outside of Bury by lap 2 to claim 2^nd, with Bury 3^rd and Thomas Stone close behind. Out front, Morris controlled the pace with the quickest laps while Bury closed back in on Sifleet and Stone stayed in the fight. Traffic bunched the chasers, but Morris stayed clear and held on despite a final-lap lock-up as a tyre began to deflate, sealing a commanding flag-to-flag win. Behind him, the order held to the flag. The top five were the only drivers to finish on the lead lap in an entertaining opening race for the 2026 210 Challenge

1^st Morris, 2^nd Sifleet, 3^rd D. Bury, 4^th Stone, 5^th Henry, 6^th Ray Sloane.

Heat 2 With expectations high after Morris’s dominant Heat 1 performance, the complexion of the race changed immediately as Morris made a bad getaway and failed to get away cleanly, being tagged from behind and suffering a bent axle, forcing his retirement and leaving the door wide open for the rest of the field. It was reigning champion Sifleet (1) who capitalised, making a strong start and taking the lead on the run down to Dan Wheldon Corner. From there, Sifleet quickly began to build a commanding advantage. Behind him, Paul Fowler (59) initially ran second before Bury moved up, the pair engaging in a close battle through the opening stages. As the race settled, Bury edged clear into a secure second place, while Stone (4) charged through from the back of the grid to fourth and steadily closed on Fowler. With Sifleet running unchallenged at the front and beginning to lap backmarkers, attention turned to the fight for the remaining podium places. Stone eventually displaced Fowler to claim 3^rd, while Stuart Henry and Smith completed the top five. Sifleet cruised home to take a dominant Heat 2 victory, with Bury a distant second after a consistent drive.

1st Sifleet, 2nd D. Bury, 3rd Stone, 4th Henry, 5th Smith, 6th Sloane.

Heat 3 Bury made the best getaway to lead early, with Sifleet quickly into 2^nd as the pack streamed through the opening corners. After lap one, Bury led from a close-following Sifleet, with Stone third. Morris was already working his way into the lead group. Sifleet then attacked into Stowe Corner to take the lead. Morris climbed to third and set the pace as he closed on the front two. In the closing laps, Morris was the quickest on track and reeled Sifleet in through traffic, setting up a last-lap run to the flag. Morris latched onto Sifleets rear bumper but couldn’t find a way through in the final corners.

1^st Sifleet, Morris 2^nd, 3^rd Bury, 4^th Stone, 5^th Sloane, 6^th Smith

Final

The grid formed up Sifleet on pole, joined by D. Bury on the front row, with Stone and Morris just behind. As the lights went out Sifleet made the cleaner launch, though Morris got away strongly from the outside and slotted into 2nd despite briefly tagging wheels with Bury at Turn 1. Sifleet led the early laps with Morris close behind and Bury holding 3rd from Stone, Henry and Sloane. Once green-flag running resumed, Morris began to apply pressure and on the run down the Dan Wheldon Straight he powered past Sifleet to take the lead with a decisive move. The pair immediately broke clear, Morris showing impressive straight-line speed while Sifleet stayed close enough to challenge.

For several laps the front two circulated nose-to-tail, Morris setting fastest laps in the low 40-second bracket as he tried to edge away. Behind them Bury, Stone and Henry were locked together in a tight scrap for the final podium place.

Just past mid-distance the race took a dramatic turn when Morris slowed exiting Kimbolton Corner, his kart losing power. He headed to the pits shortly afterwards, leaving Sifleet back in command with a comfortable margin over Stone and Bury. From there the race settled, Sifleet managing traffic cleanly and maintaining a strong pace at the front.

Stone and Bury continued their close battle for 2nd, running only a few kart lengths apart, while Henry held a solid 4th. Further back Fowler, Smith, Sloane, Shelley, Shepheard and Owen circulated steadily to complete the running order.

Sifleet took the O-Plate victory in fine style, rounding off a strong weekend for the reigning Champion. Stone secured 2nd after a consistent drive, with Bury 3^rd and Stuart Henry 4^th completing the trophy winners.

1^st Sifleet, 2^nd Stone, 3^rd Bury, 4^th Henry, 5^th Fowler, 6^th Smith, 7^th Sloane, 8^th Shelley, 9^th Shepheard, Owen completed the top ten.