Laura Tillett

	KF2 and Intercontinental 'A' KARTING

Sixteen year old Laura Tillett is the daughter of
renowned kart seat manufacturer Steve Tillett

Laura at the Racing for Cancer press launch 2007

Laura has been a constant fan of Motorsport from the first day she watched her father competing in the British Formula “A” Kart Racing Championships during the early 90’s.

After a whole year of resistance from mum Martine, Laura was first allowed out to drive during the Christmas holidays of 2001. Unfortunately the night before she was due to drive the kart for the first time, it snowed. Determined not to miss her chance she decided to go to Buckmore Park anyway.

It was so icy that Nan and Grandad Tillett had to help push her up the slopes when her wheels spun to a stop!

Laura finally started racing in late 2002, at the age of 11.

She raced in the Cadet class for drivers aged from 8 to 12 and then after completeing her Cadet novice races in 2003, she changed to the more powerful Mini Max class for drivers aged 11 to 13.

After winning Buckmore Parks “Most promising young driver of the year” award, she was picked to represent the junior kart racers at the launch of a new Motorsport initiative by the ex World Champion on two and four wheels, John Surtees MBE and Manager of Team GB in the “A1” Grand Prix Series. He also used his own son as the other driver in many of the press photos.

By the end of 2004 Laura was the right age to race the fast Junior Max class and the even faster and more prestigious Junior Intercontinental “A” class, which both contain drivers up to 16 years old.
It was decided that Laura should participate in both classes during 2005 to accelerate race experience and this strategy proved successful, with vastly improved speed and race craft.

It was this year that Laura had her first taste of European racing in the European Junior Championship at Salbris in France.

Although a little early to have any hope of winning some valuable lesson were learned. One of the most valuable lessons was that a father and daughter team on there own was up against it in todays top level karting. Things had changed a bit since Laura's father finidhed racing in 1995..