THE Southside teen driving sensation, Alex Hamilton, has made it back onto the British Kart Racing championships podium for the second time in a month.
The 15-year-old, from Foxrock, has now confirmed himself as one of this year’s top talents in the sport.
This is young Hamilton’s first season in the KF2 international standard class and his most recent win saw him take a superb second in the fourth round of the Super One British Championship series.
The meeting at GYG in Wales was always going to be tough but after taking second in the third round Hamilton again confirmed his ability after qualifying second for the heats.
The weather conditions in the early heats made things even more demanding. Spitting rain and slick tyres resulted in Hamilton having to take evasive action to avoid drivers that had spun off in front of him.
After setting the second fastest time in his closing heat, Alex started his opening final on the second row. However, being on the outside he was at something of a disadvantage but still finished a strong sixth for the grand final.
Battling the elements and suffering a sore throat did not help but Hamilton surged through the pack to go into third as the race progressed. That took him to within striking distance of Mark Litchfield, the five times British Champion and as the race closed Alex slowly reeled him in lap by lap.
Despite the pressure from Jack Barlow behind Hamilton waited his chance and cleanly passed the defending champion as his Millennium Motorsport team on the sidelines errupted in cheers.
Only Ben Barnicoat, the Racing Steps Foundation backed driver, was between Hamilton and his first win in the championship. And although the Southsider set the second fastest lap in the finals in the end the Foxrock Flyer held his nerve to take another excellent second and secure a set of top class championship points as a result.
With the championship now entering its last crucial phases Hamilton will no doubt keep the pressure on now that he has put himself onto the podium ahead of some of the top names in the sport.
The next big meeting for Alex is at Rowrah in Wales on August 18 and 19.