Patience beginning to pay for Burton-Harris
Friday, June 24th, 2011
Joseph Burton-Harris aboard his Smart Device Exprit kart. Pic; AF Images
Joseph Burton-Harris, running with Team PKW in the Exprit kart, has had another month of fantastic karting highlights showing patience certainly pays!
At 13 years of age, Pro Junior (KF3) is as much a physical and mental challenge as a driving challenge. “Patience in waiting for my body to bulk up to match the older 15 and 16 year old drivers, and learning how to race a KF3 kart as fast as the front runners with much more experience has been the hardest 6 months of my racing career,” Joseph explains.
Joseph has also balanced his schooling with his racing, spending the last four weeks in the UK completing his Maths and English GCSE O level exams. As a dual British and Australian citizen, he is balancing his Australian racing commitments with his UK exams each year. “Education is key in Motorsport at all levels,” Joseph explains.
“In the British Championship sponsored by Bernie Ecclestone and Lewis Hamilton, a mobile school classroom is required at every race to enable drivers to complete schoolwork while at the track. It isn’t always as full as it should be, most teams comment, but highlights the commitment Formula One has in reinforcing education achievement is something all teams look at in young racers.”
Whilst in the UK, Joseph teamed up with the Vital Motorsport Race Team based in Leighton Buzzard, UK. Joseph helped the team prepare for an upcoming race at the picturesque Glan Y Gors race circuit in Wales, testing in wet conditions.
“This is just the beginning of our partnership with Joseph. We are hoping Joseph will return to the UK in 2012 to compete in 2 rounds of the British Championship.” stated Gary Rolfe, Team Manager and CEO of Vital Motorsport UK.
To top off his whirlwind month, Joseph’s patience finally delivered with a Podium finish in the CIK Stars of Karting Series Round 3 at Todd Rd in Melbourne. With minimal track experience and jetlag from his London flight Monday, Joseph chased Pierce Lehane for 27 laps to finish 3rd. He was pipped by Joseph Mawson at the end for 2nd.
“To finish so close to these two outstanding, experienced drivers is exactly what I have been waiting for. As a younger driver it has taken every effort from the Team PKW and engine builder Troy Farley and all those that have helped me over the years to close this gap. We are definitely getting closer,” said Joseph.
“The Stares of Karting series is the elite racing format in Australia. The wait was worth it to achieve my first podium at this level after my achievements in JMAX and JNL”.
