Sunday 10th May saw drivers tackle ever-changing conditions for the third round of the Boyndie Drome Open Challenge at Boyndie Drome Circuit near Banff.
Damp conditions after lunch created difficult tyre choice decisions throughout the paddock, with the circuit only becoming fully wet for the final races of the day.
The feature trophy was the Pioneer Mutual Shield, awarded to the driver scoring the highest points across the meeting.
Bambino (6-8 years) - Sponsored by FJB Contracts
Walter Forrest and his distinctive green kart made a flying start and never looked back, setting the fastest lap of the race at 53.814 seconds on his way to victory. Behind him, Rio Lawrence, Monty Forbes and Zak Macdonald fought closely throughout, crossing the line covered by less than a second. Lawrence secured second ahead of Macdonald and Forbes. Freddie Falconer was fifth ahead of Ross Elder and Fraser Brock, while Ronan Dyche retired early with engine trouble.
1st – Walter Forrest (Rothienorman)
2nd – Rio Lawrence (Inverurie)
3rd – Zak Macdonald (Kelso)
Novice – Rio Lawrence (Inverurie)
Honda Cadets (8-12 years) - Sponsored by AB51 Carbon Clean
From a 14-kart grid, Bruno Simonelli led the field away from Arran Stephen, Aron Hawcutt, Oscar Forbes, Max Dzhumayov and Richard Henderson Jnr. Forbes climbed to third on lap three, while Henderson moved into fourth a lap later. Stephen grabbed the lead on lap nine and held firm despite intense pressure from Forbes, who snatched second on the final lap. Simonelli completed the podium ahead of Henderson, Dzhumayov and Hawcutt. Lewis Overstone finished seventh with novice George Macdonald eighth.
1st – Arran Stephen (Rothienorman)
2nd – Oscar Forbes (Aberlour)
3rd – Bruno Simonelli (Dingwall)
Novice – George Macdonald (Dalkeith)
Micro Max (8-12 years)
Running within the Honda Cadet race, Harris Macdonald initially led the Micro Max class before James Brock moved ahead. James Strath timed his challenge perfectly, taking the class lead on lap nine before going on to secure victory from Brock. George Douglas finished third with Macdonald fourth.
1st – James Strath (Anstruther)
2nd – James Brock (Montrose)
3rd – Harris Macdonald (Stewarton)
Novice – Harris Macdonald (Stewarton)
Inter Max (10-13 years)
Jack Elder led from Jacob Pierrepont and Louis Macdonald in a compact but competitive Inter Max field. Elder and Pierrepont quickly broke away and circulated nose-to-tail for much of the race. Elder held on to take victory by just six tenths of a second, with Macdonald completing the podium.
1st – Jack Elder (Dunbeath)
2nd – Jacob Pierrepont (Bonnyrigg)
3rd – Louis Macdonald (Fyvie)
Mini Max (10-13 years)
The Mini Max drivers once again enjoyed their own standalone final, with Oliver Bird producing a flawless lights-to-flag victory. Harry Newlands, Jaxon Emslie, Douglas Craighead and Isla Bailey gave chase. Emslie spun early and later retired, while Bailey climbed impressively through the order to take second on lap seven. Newlands secured the final podium position ahead of Craighead.
1st – Oliver Bird (Daviot)
2nd – Isla Bailey (Banchory)
3rd – Harry Newlands (Insch)
Novice – Isla Bailey (Banchory)
Junior Max (10-13 years)
Drama unfolded early as Lewis Stewart dropped several places on the opening lap, leaving William Alexander out front ahead of Theo Ingram, Vinnie Lewis and Kayden Thomas. Stewart charged back through the field over the next few laps, reaching second by lap four. He hunted down Alexander and made the decisive move on the final lap to snatch victory. Vinnie Lewis completed the podium, while Cruz Strachan grabbed fourth on the last lap ahead of Thomas. Sophie Ingram finished sixth followed by Theo Ingram and top novice Jack Cruickshanks.
1st – Lewis Stewart (Conon Bridge)
2nd – William Alexander (Peterhead)
3rd – Vinnie Lewis (Westhill)
Novice – Jack Cruickshanks (Clola)
Senior Max 162 (16 years+) - Sponsored by Murray Motors Fraserburgh
Jemma Hiorns led the early stages from Mya Simpson and Jonathan Edwards before Simpson made her move on lap three to take the lead. Edwards later closed in on Hiorns and moved into second with two laps remaining, before setting off after Simpson. The Dundee youngster held her nerve brilliantly to win by just half a second. Kevin Kensett finished fourth ahead of Leon Calder, Keiran Stephen and Cooper Black.
1st – Mya Simpson (Dundee)
2nd – Jonathan Edwards (Cornhill)
3rd – Jemma Hiorns (Tillicoultry)
Novice – Leon Calder (Invergordon)
Senior Max 177 (16 years+)
With conditions deteriorating, tyre choice became critical. Most drivers gambled on slick tyres, but Owen Bates opted for wets – a decision that initially looked risky after he spun into the barriers at Pit Corner on the opening lap. Rejoining at the back, Bates used the superior grip of the wet tyres to storm back through the field, overtaking drivers one by one before reclaiming the lead by half distance. He eventually crossed the line an astonishing 20 seconds clear of the field. Billy Falconer finished second ahead of Ashton Lee Foubister, Martin Stephen and Peter James Addison.
1st – Owen Bates (Turriff)
2nd – Billy Falconer (Inverness)
3rd – Ashton Lee Foubister (Fraserburgh)
Novice – Owen Bates (Turriff)
KZ2 Gearbox (16 years+) - Sponsored by Bridgend Garage Banff
The wettest conditions of the day greeted the KZ2 field. Ally Smith made the best start to lead from Robert Strachan, Ross Greig and Alex Hawcutt. Owen Towler briefly challenged Hawcutt on lap two before the front runners settled into rhythm. Smith was untouchable at the front and took a commanding victory. Strachan drove a composed race to secure second, while Hawcutt recovered from an early deficit to pass Greig on lap six and claim third. Greig, Towler and Gordon Hawton crossed the line separated by less than a second. Chris Walker was seventh ahead of Keiran Smart.
1st – Ally Smith (Peterhead)
2nd – Robert Strachan (Turriff)
3rd – Alex Hawcutt (Portlethen)
Historics (16 years+) - Sponsored by Bridgend Garage Banff
The sole Historic Gearbox runner, Scott Benton, mastered the wet conditions and recorded a best lap time of 47.368 seconds.
1st – Scott Benton (Aberdeen)
Full race results can be found on Speedhive.
Trophies were presented by Erin McDonald on behalf of the club.
Next Meeting: GKC GP Plate – 14 June.
Press release : Alan Wyness (GKC Press Officer)
Photography : Gilles Gardner – view gallery
