A FATHER and son from Sawtry had mixed experiences at a weekend karting festival. It was 13-year-old Will van Es who showed his father the way to do it at the Maxxis TKM Festival, held at the Hunts Kart Race Club, near Kimbolton. More than 200 competitors

A FATHER and son from Sawtry had mixed experiences at a weekend karting festival.

It was 13-year-old Will van Es who showed his father the way to do it at the Maxxis TKM Festival, held at the Hunts Kart Race Club, near Kimbolton.

More than 200 competitors from as far afield as the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Scotland descended on the circuit for two days of action.

Dad Roel, 48, raced for the very first time in the veterans and heavies event, while Will's coach Richard Lloyd won the event in his 115cc senior kart.

A freak accident that saw a marshal trip over a tyre wall meant that van Es junior's appearance in the junior TKM final was reduced from 14 laps to seven.

In the event, van Es made good progress from his starting grid position to come a creditable 15th of 34 racers in the Elite Cup final.

Will said: "I was racing against eight of the top 15 drivers in the UK. Some of them have been karting since they were eight years old. Coming 15th in only my ninth race was awesome.

"If the final had been 14 laps, I think I could have pulled up even a few more places."

The two-day race meeting was televised by the Motors TV channel so Will is looking forward to seeing some of his manoeuvres on television.

"The festival will be on television, so I'll be watching that and asking my Dad to buy a copy of the TKM Festival DVD. Hopefully, I'll be able to use it to better my lap times," he said.