Sunbury’s Jordan Ford shocked himself and the superkart world with a stunning international debut earlier this month.
After dominating the 250cc national-class superkart Australian last year, Ford travelled to England for the third and fourth rounds of the European Superkart Championship and the British Superkart Grand Prix.
Over one weekend, Ford competed in the 250cc mono-cylinder division, which is being run for the first time this season.
After practice ahead of the third round of the championship, Ford quickly realised he wouldn’t just be making up the numbers.
He had never raced against any of the drivers before and he told Star Weekly before travelling to England that he was just hoping to be competitive.
“After qualifying it made us set our goals higher straight away,” Ford said on his return.
“The aim was to win then. The equipment was second to none and I was able to learn the track quickly.”
In a tough battle with British superkart champion Gavin Bennett, Ford won his class in the third round of the European Championship, before engine problems restricted him to fourth place in the fourth round.
“I was close to the track record in practice and I went under it in the race,” he said. “Gavin then went under it again, but I was able to win.
“I had an engine failure in the second race and finished fourth.”
The best was still to come for Ford in the grand prix, when he dominated the race and broke the lap record again.
“There were 45 karts in my class … the best people in the world competing and I was able to come out on top,” he said.
Ford said he would now focus on the Australian Championships, with an eye on returning to Europe next year.
He won three out of the four races in the opening round of the Australian championship, with engine drama preventing him from starting in the other.
He sits second in the championship and is confident he can go back-to-back.
“I think there’s an expectation to defend the title next year,” Ford said of returning to Europe. “If I can maintain the sponsors, maybe I can do the whole European championships.”
