MOULTON man Damien Sleep was fourth two years ago in the British Superkarts Championship.
Last season he was fourth. And this season he is... yes, you've guessed it. 'But,' he says, 'it is tight in there and I'm hopeful.'
And not without cause, for 36-year-old Sleep is the 125cc lap-record holder at both Donington and Oulton Park and is generally considered the fastest driver in the championship, though that does not always translate into victories.
The Championship is at Donington on Sunday and there are another five meetings after that.
Sleep, of Niddries Court, bought his first kart at the age of 13 for £70 and started racing a year later, winning club championships in and around his native London.
In 1988 he crashed and, among other injuries, broke his ankle. At the same time his career was taking off and he gave up the sport, until 2001.
'I attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed and asked myself why I was not racing. After all I knew I was quite good and I had no excuses not to,' he recalled.
Karting is broadly split into direct drive 100cc short circuit racing and the gearbox machines, 125 or 250s, for long tracks. With their full bodies they look like small F1 cars.
Sleep's comeback was via the short circuit route and he enjoyed some success before making the switch to Superkarts in 2003.
Then came his successive fourth places. 'I was reasonably chuffed first time round as a novice and I had also broken the lap record at Donington.
'But after getting to know the tracks, winning the best newcomer award and getting some sponsorship I was disappointed I couldn't improve on fourth, though I did set a lap record at Oulton.
'Now I'm fourth again. I'm regularly on pole position, but the quickest guy doesn't always win.
Other things, like an engine blowing up, have gone wrong.
'But it is the best 11 of 14 races that count and I have already discarded two races when I didn't score. The leaders have to lose some points yet so it is tight in there. It is not clear cut and I am hopeful of winning it.'
Typically, the 125s have a top speed of 130mph and races are over 20 miles. His Oulton record is 1min 47secs which equates to an average speed of 95mph.
Sleep, an operations director for a company providing 'hotel services' to the region's major hospitals, added: 'The karts have a fabulous low centre of gravity and on the bends they are about the fastest things you can get.
'The speed does take a bit of getting used to and I did have to adjust my driving, but long track suits my style.
'Some people think I'm insane, but I find it exhilarating and fun, though it will only ever be a hobby.'
