"Never mind the hot dogs, I wanna be top dog!" | 31/07/08 The trackside café at Braga, in Portugal is renowned for its hot dogs, topped - somewhat bizarrely - with crushed crisps. Jonathan Walker shudders at the memory - and is keener to talk about the on-track action rather than that in the kitchen. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. I know the track quite well and I think I should be okay. I'm aiming for a top 15, which would be a good achievement for my first year in KF1." He added, "It's a good circuit with different gradients, a really good chicane - which you have to get right - and some tricky hairpins........ read more >> Jonny's had his chips in Belgium | 21/07/08 Great performance in European Championship ends in upset There's an old joke that goes, 'I broke down on the way here. Dunno why - but I just started crying.' After his experience at the 2nd round of the European Kart Championships, Jonathan would certainly appreciate the punch-line. He had gone to Mariembourg in Belgium with realistic hopes of success, saying beforehand: "I'd like to be in the mix and make it into the top 15. That'll give me fairly good grid slots for the heats, and if I can finish well - in the top ten - then I'll make the cut for the main finals"........ read more >> Jonny scores a boatload of points in Lakes | 16/06/08 Podium double moves him into Championship contention Jonathan Walker's two second-place finishes in the 3rd round of the British Super 1 kart Championship at Rowrah in the Lake District (14/15 June), have moved him into 4th place in the title hunt. The 19-year old had gone into the weekend well prepared, after spending several days testing at the Cumbrian track. However, Jonathan felt that his kart's handling could have been better during Timed Qualifying. He said, "I couldn't get the kart to 'come on' in the allocated time. It was taking about eight laps for the chassis........ read more >> Jonny aims to conquer twists and turns of Rowrah | 13/06/08 Success on the demanding Cumbrian track is vital for Jonathan's Championship chances. This weekend (14/15 June) sees Jonny bidding to take the advantage in the British Super 1 Championship at Rowrah in Cumbria. At the previous round at PFi, Jonny took a vital 3rd place to put him 6th overall in the Championship points. After rigorous testing at Rowrah - sited in a former open-cast quarry - Jonathan believes that he's in great shape to take his first win of the season. "Testing's gone well, and I'm confident that I'll be up there come Sunday. I'll be giving it a damn........ read more >> Jonny delighted with podium | 21/05/08 Jonathan was delighted - if a little surprised - to finish 3rd at last Sunday's (18 May) second round of the British Super 1 kart Championship. He had put in a storming drive in the second of the day's two finals to finish in 4th place - but a driver's disqualification from 2nd place moved him into a trophy-winning position. "I couldn't ask for any more really" he said, reflecting on the fact that he'd previously stated that he needed a podium finish to kick-start his title ambitions, after a disastrous first round of the UK's premier karting Championship - "Beforehand I did say........ read more >> Championship begins this weekend for Walker | 17/05/08 Jonathan is hoping for a turnaround in his fortunes at PFi, in the second round of the British Super 1 Championship. The AMT driver admits that the Lincolnshire circuit is one of the toughest to get a result at - but is aiming for a podium nevertheless. And he has reason to be confident, as last year he finished in a well-deserved 2nd place to 3-time British Champion, Mark Litchfield. "PF's one of the hardest tracks on the calendar because everyone tests there and they go well in the racing as a result. I tested there recently and was bang on the pace - one of the quickest....... read more >> Jonathan optimistic despite difficult start to Euro Champs | 06/05/08 Jonathan endured a tough start to his bid for European Championship glory at last weekend's (3/4 May) opening round of the European Kart Championship at Angerville in France. The PDB racing star was hampered by ruptured tendons in his hand, sustained after a high-speed accident during testing for the British Super 1 Championship (12/13 April). In Timed Qualifying, Jonny could only record the 34th fastest time - barely 8 tenths of a second off the pole time. In his first heat, Jonathan started from 21st place on the grid and clawed his way up to 16th at the finish ........ read more >> Walker vows to bounce back | 17/04/08 Jonathan has vowed to put his frustrating start to the domestic kart racing season behind him, and return to form at the first round of the European Championship at Angerville, France (26 /27 April 2008). The 19-year old crashed heavily during testing ahead of the first round of the Super 1 Championship, spraining his wrist, which then plagued him for the remainder of the weekend. The Three Sisters circuit at Wigan leaves little room for error. Unfortunately, with the meeting hit by sudden and frequent rain showers, judging where the grip was became........ read more >> 3rd place launches Jonathan's title assaul | 01/04/08 Jonathan scored a creditable 3rd place at last weekend's (29/30 March) British Open Championship at the Three Sisters circuit, near Wigan and said: "This is just the start". The 'O Plate' - as the event is known, after the number plate bearing an 'O' is awarded to the winner - is one of British karting's most prestigious titles, and is renowned for the winner-takes-all nature of the driving. Jonathan's weekend started reasonably enough, when in Timed Qualifying, he posted the 5th fastest time. "We could've gone quicker, but didn't" he said somewhat........ read more >> Jonny's back in action | 13/03/08 The wait is almost over. After a winter of testing, fitness training and performing PR duties for the sponsors - the world's best drivers are back in action on 15/16 March. We're not talking about F1 but the WSK (Winning Series Karting) Championship, which kicks off at the superb La Conca circuit in Puglia, Italy. And Jonathan will be in the thick of the action. "This is the first time that I've competed in the WSK Championship and I've got to be realistic about my chances", he says. "All the big teams will be there and they've entered their best drivers - people like ........ read more >> Jonathan returns to racing - and the podium… | 25/01/08 J"That wasn't too bad was it?" That was Jonathan's typically understated summary of his return to the podium, at last weekend's (19-20 January) third round of the Association of British Kart Clubs' Winter Series. The Blackburn driver's achievement at the PFi circuit in Lincolnshire - finishing 2nd behind three time British kart champion, Mark Litchfield - was all the more impressive considering he'd not even sat in a kart for over two months, "I found it hard at the start of the weekend, but then got it together for the final." Under skies greyer than the PFi tarmac ........ read more >> Getting down with Jonathan Walker | 14/01/08 Ever though you knew Jonathan Walker, well we caught up with him and got down to those questions everyone likes to hear about! PERSONAL STATS Full name - Jonathan Walker Lives - Ribchester, near Blackburn, Lancashire D.O.B - 17/8/1988 Occupation - Racing Driver KARTING STUFF When and how did you first get into in karting? - I was 9 and Dad bought me a Cadet kart to have a go with. I liked it so much that I soon started to race at Three Sisters, near Wigan. What do you find so exciting about it? - The buzz, when you're going into........ read more >> Jonny's in a spin | 10/01/08 Jonny has signed with Britain's leading motorsport PR, Marketing and Driver Management agency - 100cc PR. He says: 'I was looking to create more awareness about what I do, both at home and abroad and let everybody know what I've been up to both on, and off the track. Having seen what the guys at 100cc PR have done for other karters, I know they can help me achieve that.' 100cc PR also looks after several of Europe's other leading drivers other karters, as well teams and product manufacturers. Owner of 100cc, Adam........ read more >> Walker re-signs with PDB for '08 | 01/01/08 After a First good year with World Championship winning team P.D.B Racing Team Jonathan Has re-signed for 2008. He will Be Competing in the World, European and WSK Championships in KF1 which will take him all around the world. "I am very delighted to have re-signed for P.D.B Racing Team for my second season in KF1, hopefully will go on to win some races. Jonathan will be also Competing in the MSA British Championship with AMT Racing using the Gillard kart Powered by IAME. " I'm looking to be fighting for the Championship this year......... read more >>