Erik Gilsenan bidding for UK motorsport title

Last December the Meath Chronicle reported about seven-year-old St Seachnall's NS, Dunshaughlin pupil Erik Gilsenan who at that time was competing in the Bambino class in kart racing.

Scarcely six months later the now eight-year-old is eligible to compete in the Cadet class.

Last February he headed for the sunshine in Spain for three days of competitive testing in Valencia ahead of the planned start of the championships in the UK in March.

However, Covid-19 intervened and the original 12-round series was reduced to five with the action starting last month.

Erik has made a big impression in three of the five rounds staged so far and he is now gearing up for the final round in the condensed championship that will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August.

At this stage the Ratoath boy, a son of James and Jenny Gilsenan, has competed in the opening round at the Clay Pigeon Raceway, a one-day event on Sunday 5th July, and at the two-day Whilton Mill round on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August last.

Erik started kart racing when he was six when he received a bambino go kart for his birthday in March 2018.

In April 2018 he competed at Motorsport Ireland events in Leinster and Munster, but was only eligible to apply for an official licence this year after he celebrated his seventh birthday.

Dad James is from Ratoath and mother Jenny is a native of Latvia while Erik's grandfather Noel from Kiltale has had a long association with motorsport.

"It was great for Erik, but I wasn't able to travel due to the Covid-19 regulations so I had to rely on updates from the track, but he did well and that's great," stated proud grandfather Noel.

Erik was eligible to apply for his Motorsport Ireland licence in March last year when he was seven and he was then able to compete in a championship class (Bambino).

The first podium was achieved in October 2018 when six-year-old Erik finished third in a competitive race and a month later he got his first win in a round of the 2018 / 2019 Winter Championship.

With a lot of hard work and determination Erik improved and he started achieving very good results.

He won the 2018/2019 Leinster Kart Club Championship on overall points in Athboy.

He was also selected as driver of the day on one of the rounds in April last year and the 2019 Summer Championships (Leinster Kart Club) was secured.

The next challenge was the scheduled testing in Spain last February and that all slotted nicely in the schedule as Erik's mother Jenny explained.

"We travelled to Valencia in February for the three days BKC testing and unusually, it was raining for the first day, but Erik showed his amazing skills driving on the wet and made no mistakes," Jenny told the Meath Chronicle.

"For the second day the weather improved and Erik was able to use all the power and he was right up the front.

"On the third day Erik was leading most of the races with consistent fastest laps and he had a race to finish off.

"Grid positions were drawn randomly and Erik was number 13, starting second last on the grid, but he showed amazing driving skills as he stormed to second place with the fastest lap of the race," she added.

After the results in Spain it was decided that Erik should compete in Super One BKC series, a step above what he could have opted for.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant all racing, like all other sport, was cancelled and Erik was off the track for five months until he returned to action in July.

"The first round took place in July at the Clay Pigeon Raceway, Erik was entered with UK-based Albone Racing Development team," added mum Jenny.

"Erik had one day to learn the track and get everything right, but it soon became clear that there were engine issues.

"This was a big let down and he struggled all day, but was still collecting points.

"Erik was still pushing hard and in the final started 14th on the grid, battled up to sixth, but the engine issues caused him to drop back to ninth.

"It was still a great experience and he was determined to come back stronger.

"The second and third rounds took place at the Whilton Mill Circuit at the beginning of August and with the engine issues resolved it was looking more positive thanks to Force Motorsport Engineering.

"Erik finished sixth in both heats and that meant that he started in sixth on the grid for the final, but he had an excellent race and worked his way up to second by the end.

"It was great to see him on the podium for the first time in the UK, but we knew it would not be easy to repeat it as all the other drivers were very strong.

"The team was determined to push for a win the second day and Erik took P2 on the morning practice followed by P4 and P3 in the heats.

"He started on the front row in the final and it gave him even more confidence for the 12-lap contest.

"There were many different leaders throughout the race, but Erik's sheer determination saw him take the lead in an excellent overtaking manoeuvre and he took the chequered flag punching the air," she added.

The Meath boy is now in the hunt for the championship and is in third place overall ahead of rounds four and five that will conclude the action at the end of the month.