TOP SINGLE-SEATER TEAM FORTEC TO ENTER KARTING

Leading single-seater team Fortec Motorsports will expand into karting for this season, fielding a four-kart team in the Formula Kart Stars Championship.

The team already has strong karting links through its driver academy and has also promoted several karting stars to its MSA Formula outfit. Now Fortec will run its own karting team for the first time.

“It’s a natural thing to do,” said team owner Richard Dutton. “We’ve got an academy for young drivers up and running and have got quite a few 13 and 14-year-olds in karting.

“It makes sense for us to run them ourselves and create that link to singleseaters. We will also run the winner of the championship in MSA Formula.

“We are now just putting together the team to make sure we have the right people in place.”

Fortec will have FKS champion Ross Martin as part of its MSA Formula this year, along with fellow karter Alex Quinn, who won Racing Steps Foundation backing.

FKS managing director Sebastian King said: “Fortec Motorsports is without doubt one of the most successful singleseater teams with a worldwide pedigree. We are very excited to welcome them to the championship and, with it, the opportunities they present to all our drivers through their various single-seater operations and driver development programmes.”

The drivers for Fortec’s first season in karts are expected to be announced in the next couple of weeks.