Schledz becomes the youngest BRKC champion after a stunning drive in the Grand Final.
An intense and ultra-competitive BRKC 2023 culminated in a thrilling final race, with a topsy-turvy grid setting the stage.
Reigning champion Sean Brierley took pole position in the super pole shootout despite being one of the earlier runners, but had the disadvantage of a late kart-pick and was never in contention for the race victory.
The lead swapped shortly after the race began, and the field broke into several separate groups once drivers began completing their first pitstops.
Sam Slater, starting a BRKC Grand Final for the first time, and Vica Schledz chose to make both pitstops relatively early, whilst other drivers such as Matt Bartsch & Kuba Piechulski ran long, along with 6 time champion Ruben Boutens.
In the final minutes, as the late pitstops began, it became clear that Schledz had created enough of an advantage to emerge at the front, jumping Bartsch and pulling clear.
Sam Slater overtook his BSR teammate Bartsch in the Snail corner with a robust move, and pressed on, hoping for a podium. But it was Bram Gelten & Ruben Boutens who slotted into the 2nd & 3rd spots and completed the podium in front of the largest ever BRKC crowd of spectators.
“It was so hard, but I made it. It was really slippery and I thought Bram was really close to me. I don’t know what to say, it’s unbelievable.”
A fired up BSR team stormed to the BRKC Teams’ championship – with three drivers (Hoeller, Slater & Bartsch) all making the Final, and Dhillon also performing strongly.
Gary Jones once again won the Kam Ho Masters’ trophy as the highest placed driver over 40 years old. Sean Brierley won the Genevieve Reason Memorial award for his incredible drive from 10th to 2nd place in Semi-Final 2.
Vica Schledz took the m4em Timber Products Fastest Qualifier award for the best single lap run of the weekend.
BRKC 2024 returns in January.
BRKC Organiser
Brad Philpot
