Armthorpe family get into gear for British karting championships

Three karting proteges from Armthorpe are keeping a passion for motor sport in the family as they gear up for an exciting 2021 season.
By Paul Goodwin
Published 7th May 2021, 06:00 BST
Karting starlets Charlie Domonkos and his cousins Freya and Lexie Belk are all competing at national level.Karting starlets Charlie Domonkos and his cousins Freya and Lexie Belk are all competing at national level.
Karting starlets Charlie Domonkos and his cousins Freya and Lexie Belk are all competing at national level.

Sisters Freya, aged 16, and Lexie Belk, 14, will line up in this year’s Motorsport UK Kartmasters British Grand Prix – one of the biggest races in the karting calendar – after joining the Mad Croc Promotions race team last month.

And following in their footsteps is their 12-year-old cousin Charlie Domonkos who will take to the grid in the 2021 British Cadet Kart Championship.

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Freya and Lexie’s parents Paul and Liz both grew up around motorsport and their father competed in various forms of the sport. Liz’s brother Mark, Charlie’s father, also raced in motocross for many years.

“After years of watching their dad race the girls both decided around eight years ago to try karting,” said Liz.

“After lots of practice they started to compete five years ago in what is a massively male-dominated sport.

“Their racing journey started at club level circuits and quickly progressed into a passion rather than a hobby.”

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Mark said: “Charlie got into racing karts because he wanted to do the same as Freya and Lexie.

“He is in his fourth year of racing. He learned about the sport in Honda cadet racing for two years and won various awards including most improved driver of the year in 2019.”

Freya and Lexie reach speeds of up to 75mph in the Junior Rotax class, while Charlie clocks in excess of 65mph in the Mini Max class.

The 2019 season saw Freya crowned Woodthorpe Kart Club Junior Rotax champion and Driver’s Driver of the Year, while Lexie was Woodthorpe Kart Club Ladies champion and Mini Max vice champion.

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“Their aim this season is for a top 10 finish against the best drivers in the country,” said Liz.

Charlie took third place in last year’s Woodthorpe Club Championship.

“He just gets faster and faster each time he gets on the racetrack and we’re expecting some podium finishes this season,” said Mark, who thanked sponsors Parkes Brothers Roofing Doncaster, J&S Metals in Sandtoft and Luke Shaw Electrics.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Freya and Lexie should email [email protected]