MONK Bretton's female karting star Amanda Lassu quite literally kickstarted her final race of the British Formula Super1 Kart Championship at Buckmore Park in Kent. While Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton goes for glory this weekend in Brazil, Lassu was putting the boot in on her rivals at the same track where Hamilton began his career. And she even went one better. Great driving in the heats landed the 16-year-old a second, first and third place finish. That was enough to start her in pole position on the grid for the final, which was over 20 laps. Full of confidence after impressive results in the heats, she was ready for the final but what unfolded next was enough to test the nerves of any teenager. Disaster struck on the rolling lap when she suffered engine failure. It looked like it was game over as the other karts disappeared down the first hill but fortunately a pile-up ensued and the race was red flagged.

A distraught Amanda rejoined the parked karts and while officials rushed to clear the track of debris to restart the race, she was given only a matter of minutes to solve the problem. She was unable to repair the kart in time and after being told to retake her place at the front of the grid or be disqualified, a clearly upset Amanda kicked the kart in frustration. Little did she know that the old fashioned boot to kart trick would work wonders. During the rolling lap, she found that she had more response from the engine with reduced throttle. She led the karts over the start line, managing to take the first corner in the lead but the next five laps would test Amanda's nerve and resolve more than it had ever been tested before. The chasing pack continued to put her under pressure and only some fine defensive manoeuvres and skill with the throttle kept her ahead. The kick to the engine is believed to have caused a gradual release of vacuum and possibly stabilised a loose power valve. By lap nine she started to regain power and duly pulled away leaving five chasing karts struggling desperately to hold on. As the race progressed she pulled further and further away from the pack and as she took the last lap board the crowd was cheering, the commentator was waxing lyrical about her performance and Amanda was already starting her celebrations, punching the air in delight.

She took the flag with a six second lead to complete a remarkable recovery. At the trophy presentation not only had she won her first round of the British Championships at this level, but she had also smashed the track record for any class of kart in the track's history and is officially the fastest thing on wheels at Buckmore Park. At 16-years-old she is also the youngest ever driver, both male and female, to win a Formula Rotax DD2 race at championship level anywhere in Europe. The organisers are notifying the Rotax officials in Italy.