PRESS RELEASE: 10th January 2012

Big Boost For Robbie

Lympsham Karting Ace 14 year old Robbie Gallier has had a major boost as he has attracted support from the Italian Kart manufacturer CRG.

2011 saw the multiple Honda Cadet Champion and lap record holder move up to the Junior Rotax class, instead of the normal step which is from Cadet to the Rotax Minimax class. Robbie moving straight up to the Junior Rotax class has proved the correct step, especially as he started Karting at 11 years old. Most youngsters start at 8 or even 6.

The first event in 2011 in the class was rewarded with an amazing result, finishing second behind the number three driver in the country. There were many more podium finishes in 2011 during which Robbie went to many different tracks all over the country and abroad, finishing on the podium in all but a few races and winning at a the Fullbeck track, a track he had never raced at before.

Mark Collings of CRG UK spotted Robbie's talent when he first started racing at the Llandow track where he won every race there and broke the lap record in a 16 month period. Mark continued to follow Robbie's progress in 2011 and has offered to support Robbie as a factory supported driver for 2012 and 2013.

It is hoped Robbie can now compete in the British Championship and at least one major race abroad in 2012.

Robbie's commented "This is such an amazing help. Working with CRG will be so good and all I hope is I can race in the British Championship. I just can not wait for the season to start"

To ensure this can happen he does need additional support as racing at top level is very expensive commented Chris Hutchings who is helping the youngster. "With it being very tough out there, we are hoping that we can attract some additional backing as I believe as Mark Collings does that Robbie has a real future in Motorsport"

You can contact Robbie via his web site at www.robbiegallier.co.uk

Support continues from; Eurocams, Mountney, Bespoke Eng, Photo bloc, Talon, BWOC, Demon Tweeks , Lucas Oil and PIAA.

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE: 11 June 2011

Robbie's Fastest Laps in The Rain.

The rain may have delayed the Canadian Grand Prix, but even though it was every bit as bad in the UK, the Championship Kart race at Clay Pigeon race track near Dorchester in Dorset went ahead this weekend. The track is where Jenson Button the eventual winner of the Grand Prix won his first Kart race.

Eurocams backed Robbie Gallier the 14 year old Junior Rotax driver from Lympsham was driving his first ever wet race on his Tony Kart EVVR and what a race it was. To get to the final Robbie had to first complete three heats each with just 8 laps, and the only concession to the weather as it was a reduction from the normal 10 lap . Starting 6th in the first heat and on the wrong side of the track, there was the predictable tangle at the start pushing Robbie down to 14th. He made great progress to get to 4th and then disaster struck when the chain came off due to the impact at the start tangle and spun him out,

He needed to make the second heat count and that he did in style winning by over 6 seconds. The third and starting from 8th again was difficult due to the lack of visibility. This dropped Robbie down to 12th, but then putting some amazing laps he managed to get back up to finish 4th and again taking the fastest lap.

With the non finish in the first heat Robbie qualified back in 6th place for the 13 lap final. The weather had become so treacherous that some were calling for the race to be cancelled, something Robbie did not want as he was becoming more and more confident in the conditions.

The Kart Express Team set the Kart up beautifully all day and made some more adjustments for the final, and what a final. From 6th and wanting to ensure his race did not end in the first corner he took it very easy and dropped to 8th, making some incredible moves whilst setting yet again the fastest lap got up to 4th. Then the real charge came at one of the most difficult corners Paddock bend where he overtook two in one move to cheers in the crowd, and then took another in the horseshoe to move to 2nd. With just one lap to go Robbie reeled in the leader and challenged and briefly overtook Steven Handford again in paddock bend only for Handford to re take Robbie. As Handford is not registered for the championship, Robbie thought about maximum points and settled for 2nd and a great trawl of points.

Robbie commented:"This was probably the most difficult races I have had and I really enjoyed it. Of course I wanted to win but this really helps my championship. The team did a great job, my set up was perfect."

 

PRESS RELEASE: 23 May 2011

Stunning Result for Gallier

Lympsham Karting ace 14 year old, Eurocams backed Robbie Gallier was on stunning form at Fullbeck in Lincolnshire. It was Gallier's first ever visit to the track in preparation for next years British Championship.

Still in his first year in the Junior Rotax class, Robbie is impressing many as he is rarely off the podium. It was a true demonstration of his undoubted talent. When he arrived at the Fullbeck track he had to be immediately on the pace, which was the case on Saturday's open practice sessions. Having to practice all day on used tyres, due to budget restraints, when in the last session Robbie opted to scrub in the new set he would use on Sunday and immediately went 9 tenths of a second quicker than any other competitor in the Junior Rotax class.

Sunday's weather was similar to that on Saturday just a little cooler, which meant that all the hard work Robbie and Team Kart Express had put in would not be wasted.

In the first of three 10 lap heats Robbie started 10th of the 18 competitors and made good progress through the pack to finish 5th. The second heat in which he started 5th saw Robbie drive a stunning race to finish 2nd with just 100ths of a second behind the winner. In the third he again finished 2nd, qualifying him 2nd for the 15 lap final.

With the wind very strongly and the temperature cooling, Robbie knew he had to get the tyres up to temperature if he was to make a move for the lead and maintain it. He patiently kept behind the pole setter to take the lead on lap 6 and then again set some tremendous times taking fastest lap to achieve his first ever win in the Junior Rotax class.

Onlookers were impressed with his performance and how quickly he mastered the track. Robbie commenting "I really like the track, it was demanding and makes you concentrate 110% to get the fastest lap all day shows what a great job the team did."

Robbie is competing next weekend in France in the KF3 Class at the French GPO championship. The team leaves on Wednesday and Robbie cannot wait. He is the only British driver in KF3 and one of the youngest, so it will be a tough weekend.

Support continues from; Eurocams, Mountney, Demon Tweeks, BWOC, Lucas Oil, WSM Fasteners, Bespoke Mfg and PIAA.

 

PRESS RELEASE: 29 April 2011

Fine Third for Robbie

Eurocams backed Robbie Gallier returning to Dunkeswell Kart Circuit in Devon for the first time since June 2010 and the first time in the new to Robbie Junior Rotax class kart. The just 14 year old was the youngest in the class and arrived for the Saturday's open practice buoyed up by two good days of testing in the KF class kart at PFI the world famous Lincolnshire track.

The Kart Express team arrived at 2.00am to prepare Robbie's kart for the weekend. Robbie found that he was instantly on the pace, which was surprising considering that his new kart is almost four times more powerful than the Honda cadet class kart he raced and held the lap record in, a year ago. After six practice sessions Robbie was very happy with the set up the Kart Express Team gave him and was looking forward to the Sunday race day.

Sunday's weather as Saturday's was scorching and very good for grip, with lots of rubber being put down on the track. The first of the three heats saw Robbie start 5th and finish 3rd. In the second starting from 9th from a grid of 14 and after a very bad start due to there being a lot of contact he came through to take 6th.

What was encouraging was that Robbie had the fastest lap time in the first and joint fastest in the second heat. The third heat was the most difficult with there being three false starts and the engine getting very hot in the extreme temperature., Once the engine cleared and he avoided the incidents in front of him, he came from 11th to finish 6th. This meant he qualified 5th and the all important right hand side of the track for the 12 lap final.

After a very turbulent start, Robbie emerged 3rd and was challenging in every corner and moving up to second twice, just not having enough experience and straight line speed to hold second. There was no more than 400th's of second between first, second and third places so he was pleased to finish a excellent 3rd on his debut race in Junior Rotax at Dunkeswell and his 4th podium in the class.

Robbie is grateful to receive support from Eurocams, Demon Tweeks, Mountney, Lucas Oil, PIAA and Bespoke Mfg.

 

PRESS RELEASE: 11 April 2011

Robbie Bounces Back

After a very difficult March, which saw 13 year old Lympsham Karting Ace Robbie Gallier racing in the UK and France, the month was dogged by mechanical problems and accidents, he was determined to get his season back on track.

The Eurocams backed driver was racing at his home circuit, Clay Pigeon near Dorchester in Dorset. It was the first time he had been able to race in dry weather for two days since moving up from the Honda Cadet class to Junior Rotax for 2011.

Saturday's open practice went really well, Robbie enjoying the very warm weather and the extra grip this gave him. The Team Kart Express worked hard to give him the set up that he was happy with and finished the day two tenths of a second quicker than any of the 17 others in the class.

Robbie still lacking the race experience in the new class knew it would be a tough weekend as there were many top drivers competing. With the weather the same glorious sunshine as on Saturday the Sunday races got under way at 10.30am and in the first of the three heats he started 5th. After the second start, it was a very exciting race and saw Robbie finish 2nd. The second heat, starting from 6th, having a very difficult start which saw him drop back to 12th to make a superb comeback to take 4th and in the third heat from 16th he drove with great determination as the engine kept cutting out on slow corners to take 6th.

This qualifying him a fine 3rd and all important right side of the track for the final. Making a great start saw Robbie soon up to 2nd and taking the lead on lap 7 of 15, only to loose it on lap 9. Then the leader concerned about Robbie's pace, slowed and backed the race up on lap 12, momentarily working he dropped back to 6th and then made some amazing moves to regain 2nd which is where he finished.

Robbie commented, " Phil Howarth my mechanic and the team gave me an awesome Kart today and perhaps I could have won. Still it was only my third race in the new class at Clay and 2nd was great for the championship points."

 

PRESS RELEASE: 14 February 2011

First Podium of 2011 For Robbie

Karting ace Robbie Gallier starts the 2011 season with a spectacular result in his first race in the Clay Pigeon championship. The 13 year old of Lympsham, Somerset was in only his second race in the new to him Junior Rotax class.at the demanding Clay Pigeon circuit which is just east of Yeovil. This is the circuit where Jenson Button raced regularly and it was a championship he coveted. Robbie was racing in a new more powerful class. Deciding to move up two classes was always going to be a challenging start to the year.

With all the open practice on the Saturday being in the dry, it was no preparation for what was to face him on Sunday when the heavens opened all day. Undaunted by the weather, in fact revelling in the difficult conditions, he started 5th in the first of the three heats, and after the second lap he took the lead and drove away from the significant opposition to take a comfortable lead to go on and win.

The other two heats where both subject to big accidents. Robbie did well to stay on the track after starting 11th, but he got caught up in the accident dropping him to last. He pushed hard and was the only driver to make up significant places to finish an amazing 3rd, winning praise from his new Team Manager Mike Kellard of CKRT who commented "that was a most outstanding drive, what a comeback, many drivers would have just settled to finish, to get back to third was nothing other than fantastic". In the third heat, there was another big accident. Starting 5th he then went back to 7th in the mayhem, with the first three managing to get away he was only going to be able to claw his way back to 4th.

These superb heat results netted Robbie 2nd for the final, which was not ideal as he was starting on the dirty side of the track. Starting the race and needing to finish the final to gain maximum championship points, he was able to challenge for the lead and decided he needed to not take any risks as the conditions were now more treacherous than ever. Visibility being the main handicap, he finished a superb 2nd, doing so beating the 2010 Clay Junior Rotax Champion and showing all he his a real championship challenger.

Robbie and the team where delighted with the result, Robbie commenting, " I am so pleased to get a good result and so pleased for my new team, Mike and Phil my mechanic just put a great Kart under me, they deserve a big thank you".

Support continues from Eurocams, Mountney, Demon Tweeks, Talon, Bespoke and PIAA.
All images are copyright free, please credit Tel T Photography