SOLIHULL schoolboy Mark Kimber was flying high in Italy after tasting success in the second round of the 2016 ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge.
Castelletto Di Branduzzo was the venue of the first decisive track action for the second round and Kimber made a brilliant start in the junior class by becoming the driver to finish under the 51-second barrier in 50.889 to put him on pole for the heats.
The young Brit impressed again in the heats and the pole sitter was in control after winning all of his heat to finish top of the class.
In the pre-final, Kimber, Glenn Van Berlo (Hugo Motorsport) and Axel Charpentier (Strawberry Racing) were the protagonists.
Each of them was able to lead the race at least one time throughout the race distance although quite a pack of youngsters were on their heels, too. While Kimber dropped back a few positions by the half-way point, Charpentier and Van Berlo seemed to arrange the win amongst themselves.
But towards the end Kimber recovered, made his way back to the top three and crossed the finish line in second place ahead of Van Berlo.
Starting second in the final, Kimber was on the outside for the first corner and was shuffled back. For the most of the race Frenchman Charpentier led the field while only Kimber was able to follow his team-mate.
Both left their opponents clearly behind and when the race approached the end, Kimber broke the ceasefire and boosted him onto the top, and taking the win.
“I had taken confidence from the previous weekend in Genk Belgium racing in the BNL championship I had two poles and a final win everything seemed to come together and the team (Strawberry Racing) has done a great job.”
“I would also like to thank Solihull School for the support they have given me with my racing.”
The next round will see young Kimber in action at the Zuera course in southern Spain.
