Military drivers take on British 24-Hour Karting Championship in gruelling Teesside test

Karting teams from across the UK Armed Forces have completed the vigorous British 24-Hour Endurance Race in Teesside, a race which is part of the 24-Hour Karting Championship.

Teams from the Army, Navy and the RAF took part in the owner drivers category where drivers can take part in the series in two dedicated rounds, including the British 24-hour race at Teesside, as well as a round in Campillos, Spain, which took place in May.

The team from the Royal Navy Royal Marines, who are the reigning three times Armed Forces Karting champions, fared the best out of all the military teams, finishing sixth in their class and 11th overall out of 89 karts. 

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The team completed 1,076 laps in total, while clocking up to 1,083 miles.

The drivers, which included Sam Cresswell, Tom Shelton, Louis Perron, Harvey Harris, Luke Thomson and Neo Phipps, completed 90-minute stints each during the 24-hour race, with all besides Sam Cresswell experiencing the event for the very first time.

The more experienced RAF Spitfires showed excellent pace throughout the weekend and were running in the top 10 in the opening stints of the race.

The team, which included Jack Watson, Matt McClure, Elliott Greenwood, Josh Kierman, Rob Small, Tom Lucas and Jack Williamson, were all on track by completing their 90-minute stints each.

However, two blown engines, among other mechanical problems, plagued their race, and they rounded up 15th in their class and 28th overall. 

The Army also ran into a spell of bad luck, with one of their drivers sent crashing into the tyre barriers after the kart's track rod detached itself, causing the driver to lose the kart's steering.

The team also carried a penalty after one of their mechanics pushed their kart too quick through the pits, which is usually allowed in their normal UK Armed Forces Championships – but on this occasion, they were handed a pit lane speeding violation.

The Army rounded up 18th in their class and 79th overall – with 972 laps completed and clocking 933 miles in total.