Podium place elevates Mackenzie into elite league

10:33am Wednesday 16th July 2008

Mackenzie Taylor further under-lined his credentials as a future motor racing star when he took a fantastic third place at Alcaniz in Spain on Sunday.

The 15-year-old from Ashford was competing in the qualifying race, where only the top 21 drivers would proceed to the European Championship at Varennes, France, on September 6-7.

Not only was Mackenzie up against some of western Europe's best young drivers, but also the heat.

He said: "The weather was very hot - more than 40C - and coping with that was always going to be a factor.

"The time I spent in the heat chamber at Kingston University really helped, and I was able to deal with the conditions very well as a result."

This was reflected by his performance in timed qualifying, when he recorded the eighth fastest time overall of 56 competitors and was the top British driver.

In the following heats, the Sunbury Manor pupil took two third places, a 10th and fifth to put him fifth in the intermediate classification.

"The Alcaniz circuit is incredible - it's so big they were testing racing cars on it last week," he said.

"The first corner is taken flat-out and, in my heats, I'd got great starts.

"And the straights are so long that up to five people could pass you by slip-streaming you down them, and then simply pulling out of the tow at the end.

"It was that extreme and made for some exciting racing.

"In the first final, I got another great start and was up to second almost immediately.

"However, three drivers slip-streamed me down one of the straights and moved me off-line going into a corner.

"I got dirt on my tyres and dropped down the order.

"By the end, I was 11th - not good at all.

"It was such a rough race because you had to be really careful not to be hit off the circuit. It was mad."

In the second final, Mackenzie again got a blistering start and, in just three corners, had passed seven karts to be sitting fourth by the end of the opening lap.

"I'd been told by my team boss, Ricky Flynn, to change my driving style - be smoother, calmer and not as fast into the corners - and it really helped," Mackenzie said.

"I caught the leaders and worked my way into second place. The leader had opened a big gap but I chased him down, caught him and then went for the lead."

Mackenzie's lead would only last for one lap, when eventual winner, Frenchman Brandon Maisano assumed the advantage.

"As the race ran to its conclusion, (the initial leader) Michael Heche made a lunge, got alongside me and moved me off line," he said.

"I just ran out of laps to catch him and Maisano back up.

"I'm pleased to have qualified for the European Championship, and there's a psychological benefit for having beaten a quality field to a podium place."

With no time to savour his success, Mackenzie will head to the Sarno circuit near Naples for next weekend's fourth round of the international Winning Series Karting Championship.

He said: "Sarno is must-win for my WSK title hopes.

"There's no finishing second or third, I have to win.

"If I can repeat my Angerville performance where Mackenzie dominated the series' visit to France back in April then I'll be pleased."

Visit Mackenzie's website mackenzietaylor.co.uk to see how he gets on at Alcaniz, and to follow his fortunes throughout the rest of the 2008 season.

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