TRIPLE BOOST FOR TKM JUNIOR AGE DRIVERS

TKM Junior Extreme Correction: Please note that in the announcement made earlier this week on the new TKM Junior Extreme class we failed to mention that the class will make use of a 24mm restrictor. We apologise to those who thought it might be with no restrictor!

Junior age kart drivers have been given a treble boost for 2008 thanks to class and age changes announced today by Tal-Ko Racing, organisers of the Formula TKM racing classes, and the Association of British Kart Clubs.

In a series of changes effective from January 1, 2008, age ranges are widened across the 2 and 4-stroke TKM classes while there is further re-organisation of the 2-stroke Junior TKM classes and addition of a new super-junior TKM category.

The changes in brief are as follows:

Junior TKM 2-stroke
Starting age lowered to year of 11th birthday if the driver is no longer a novice and at the other end raised to end of year in which the driver has his or her 17th birthday. Novices will still have to wait until their 11th birthday.

Class structure changed to a three band weight/restrictor size to allow for equal racing across all ages and sizes This makes it easy for clubs to operate one grid of Junior TKM all on blue number plates, and simple for drivers to move up a band as they grow with age. The bands are:

Junior 128	Min tot weight 128kg	Max kart weight 94kg	Restrictor 20.5mm
Junior 136	Min tot weight 136kg	Max kart weight 89kg	Restrictor 22mm
Junior 142	Min tot weight 142kg	Max kart weight 83kg	Restrictor 24mm

Junior Extreme
The former Intermediate class is now reformatted as Junior Extreme. This class will use the larger capacity 115cc TKM BT82 engine as used by seniors but with a 24mm restrictor. The starting age in the class will be 13th birthday and it will run through to end of year in which driver has 17th birthday.

With a minimum weight of 138kg and mandatory clutch, the class will become a new premier championship category and will feature at the TKM S1 National Championships next year alongside the updated Junior TKM class.

In addition, to help the class get off to a flying start, Tal-Ko Racing will be offering major cash discounts on new engine packages for the class to all those drivers registering for the 2008 S1 TKM Junior Extreme championship.

Junior 4-stroke
Remains as now but with the addition of the new starting age of year of 11th birthday for non-novices through to end of year in which the driver is 17.

Announcing the changes Tal-Ko Racing Managing Director Alan Turney said: “We believe these changes will give our classes a real boost. The new bands for Juniors will make it easy for youngsters of every age and size to race competitively together which most drivers and clubs have been asking for.”

“The Junior Extreme class should now satisfy the needs of existing Super 1 drivers together with experienced club racers who wants the extra challenge regarding performance coupled with keeping costs in check. It should become a real mecca for those drivers who want to shine and leaves drivers with an engine ready to move straight into seniors.”

He added: ”We very much welcome the age changes brought about by the ABkC. It will make it much easier for those youngsters who currently are forced to stay in a class or leave due purely to their age, when their body size dictates something else.”

Further details on the new TKM Junior Extreme class will be announced shortly.
 

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