Bugeja’s initial three race meetings in the UK National Club Karting Championship were frustrating being marred with technical problems and lost points due to an infringement of the regulations.

Bugeja’s appeal against the Clerk of the Course’s decision in February was not accepted as he did not lodge his intention to appeal officially within the stipulated 30 minutes after the race. Harsh decisions which cost Bugeja third place and valuable points.

However, Bugeja was determined to fight his way back towards the top of the Championship by intense preparations prior to April’s race meeting.

During April’s race meeting, the weather was dry, but very windy and cold. The temperature was around 3 degrees centigrade throughout the weekend. Saturday was practice day and much work was being carried out by SRS Racing Team and Bugeja to obtain the best set up for race day. Problems with broken gearing caused some delays and wasted precious track time, however by the last session of the day, Bugeja together with his chief technician, Chris Barns, found that elusive set up and Bugeja set the second fastest time of the day.

Following Sunday’s drivers briefing, Bugeja completed the mandatory three laps prior to starting his initial race. Bugeja started 21st on the grid and after some determined driving, Bugeja finished a credible 13th position out of 34 competitors.

In the second race Bugeja started 15th on the grid and made an excellent start overtaking three drivers in the first corner. Bugeja continued his aggressive drive and by mid race he was already in eighth place. Bugeja continued overtaking with immense determination to finish an excellent fourth position overall.

In the third race, Bugeja started in sixth position, but at the first corner he was hit from behind which forced him off the track and into the grass. By the time he rejoined the race he was down in 18th position. Bugeja once again settled in the race and by the end of the race he finished an impressive ninth overall.

In the final race, Bugeja had qualified eighth on the starting grid. Bugeja had a good start and by the second lap was in fourth position fighting for third. It was a great fight between the drivers until Bugeja had to take avoiding action due to an accident ahead of him. This lost him three places, but by the end of the race, Bugeja regained positions to finish an excellent fifth place.

Bugeja achieved good consistent results which have now brought him back into contention with the top drivers. Bugeja is now in sixth position overall in the Championship out of 34 drivers.

The SRS Racing Team chief technician, Chris Barns, was highly pleased with Adam’s performance and felt that Bugeja was robbed of a podium finish. SRS Team owner and former European Kart champion, Stuart Ziemelis, stated that Bugeja’s driving was superb and a joy to watch.

Commenting after the race, Bugeja was relieved that overall his run of bad luck seemed to have ended that weekend. Bugeja commented “A very difficult weekend as I started to feel the pressure. I am pleased with both my performance and that of the kart, glad to be back among the top six drivers of the championship. I thank SRS Racing Team for providing me with the necessary back-up to have achieved good results and my sponsors Air Malta, Onvol, Bridges Worldwide Express, Westin Dragonara Resorts and M-Zone for their continued support”.