THE NEXT generation of a Cumbrian karting dynasty has taken to the track for the first time.
Jessica Edgar, of Ennerdale, made her competitive debut at the Lakeland Karting Centre recently.
The talented eight year-old, whose family run thriving Nissan dealership J Edgar and Son in Rowrah, cut her racing teeth in the demanding Cadet class. But racing is in her blood.
Her granddad Terry, dad Jason and uncle Justin are all former British karting champions and belong to one of the sport’s most famous families.
Terry was British Champion in 1977, while Jason held the same title in 1997 and 2003 and was also British Open Champion in 2002, 03 and 05. Justin meanwhile, was ‘O’ Plate Champion in 2001, ‘02, ‘04 and 10, British Champion in 2002, ‘03, ‘05 and ‘06 and GP Champion in 2003 and ‘04.
What’s more, her nine year-old cousin Jonny – Justin’s son – is several years ahead of Jessica in his racing development and currently sits third in the British Championship despite racing against people four years older.
The family are now hoping Jessica and Jonny can go all the way in motorsport, potentially emulating the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton who began their racing careers behind the wheel of a kart.
And with a state-of-the-art karting workshop above the Nissan service centre and the support of the dealership’s highly skilled technicians at their disposal, the future of both young drivers could be very bright indeed.
Speaking ahead of Jessica’s first race weekend, dad Jason, Managing Director at J Edgar and Son Nissan, said: ‘Karting’s just a part of Edgar family life and has been ever since my Granda, Joseph Edgar, who founded the business, bought my dad a kart when he was a lad.
Incredibly talented
‘Justin and I were older when we came into the sport – I was 24 when I started and he was 17 – as we’d been into motocross prior to that.
‘Looking back we got into it a bit late to really make a career for ourselves in motorsport but Jonny and Jessica have the potential to go all the way if they want to.
‘Jonny’s incredibly talented and I think he’ll go a long way but it’s too early to tell about Jess at this stage. At the moment, it’s just a bit of fun for her.’
Jessica said: ‘I’m really excited about racing in my first meetings. I love going fast!’
- Our pictures show Jessica and Jonny Edgar in the family’s karting workshop above J Edgar and Son Nissan in Rowrah; and in one of the family’s crammed trophy rooms