"Never mind the hot dogs, I wanna be top dog!" | 31/07/08 Jonathan Walker in Euro Champs action this weekend 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, which is always good. The first corner is a flat-out right hander, which always creates action-packed starts". Jonathan believes that a strong qualifying performance will be the key to a successful weekend, "I'm aiming to be in the top 15 and go from there. It's important to be in that part of the time-sheets as that will put you ahead of the 'barkers' in the mid field - who usually cause the crashes. The nature of Braga's lay-out means that crashes are inevitable in the first few corners. You need to be away from all that in the heats, if you're to do well." When asked if he can win Sunday's main final, he's modest about his chances. "I don't know, we'll see," he says with a grin. He thinks for a moment and adds, "I'd like to think I can" supported by another broad smile. Jonathan turns 20 this month, but says that he will continue to race karts for another year before considering a switch to cars - "I enjoy karting. I may no longer race in Britain though because of the size of the grids. You get fifty plus in Europe, but we'll be lucky to get about ten next year in England." With his racing exploits abroad - and fame at home as one of Lancashire's premier cocktail makers - does Jonathan find himself pursued by the local paparazzi? He was once dubbed 'Ribchester's Raikkonen' after all - "I wish!" he retorts with his trademark, soft laugh. "But I'm working on it. To be honest, I do get asked quite a bit about my racing and recognised by people." Victory this weekend might just grant his wish. << back to news