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Jason Cole can rightly consider himself one of the speed merchants of Pembrokeshire Sport because the 27 year old driver from Lamphey has again won the Pembrokeshire Karting Championship after fending off a very strong challenge from a whole whose of eager rivals.

It was the second time that Jason had scooped the silverware but a whole lot different on that occasion in 2011 when he came out as top driver in four of the five rounds and gained a podium place in the other to leave all opposition trailing in his wake.

This year’s event saw him without winning any of the rounds but showing real composure to reach the final four in all of them to secure enough points to regain the coveted title in a great competition organised by Royston Badham of Pembroke Dock.

“There were a lot more competitors overall, said Jason, “and some really good new drivers so that every round was very challenging, and I went in to the final day of the championship seven points in front of another previous winner in Sam Joseph (Swansea), with Kieran Davies (Ammanford) further back in third.

“So I knew that as long as I was ahead of Sam I would win and I had a great day because I won all my three heats and semi-final so I was in the final four.

“I had a good start to keep ahead of Sam and although Kieran came first on the day I was delighted to receive the trophy from Royston as reward for my consistency.”

That Jason has done so well might not come as a surprise to those who have known him for a long time because he was brought up around engines because his dad Darrell was an autograss driver from the time he was 16 and Jason not only used to go along to watch later on but tried to help in any way he could.

“Having a kart and travelling to venues could be highly expensive,” Jason admitted, “but this event, superbly organised by Royston Badham at Carew Karting, is great because we have to pay just £35 for each of the day’s racing over five monthly days’ racing and that covers everything, including the kart, petrol, insurance, the lot.

“The 500-metre track and the machines are really looked after well by Nigel Morgan and the rest at Carew and we reach speeds of 60mph-plus on the straight – and it feels a lot faster because we are so low to the ground.

“It’s corners that are most challenging with three other drivers breathing down your neck and there’s sometimes a few spins, especially in wet conditions.

“But the safety is good and there is lots of excitement in a full day’s racing which sometimes finishes under floodlights – now that is nerve-wracking!”

Outside of his karting, Jason used to play football as a full back for a Lamphey team that was coached by Andrew Skeels and more recently he’s been involved in cycling and running. He took part in the 50-mile section of the ‘Tour of Pembrokeshire’ this year and completed the Cardiff to Tenby cycle run that was organised to raise money for charity – and with some pals at LNG is already preparing to do even better next year!

But it is karting that is his sporting favourite after he started out with just the final round of the competition in 2009. Jason had seen the competition written about in the local press so with his family background in cars decided to give it a go. He turned up, paid his entry fee – and surprised a few established karters as he beat them all!

The following race season saw him miss out by a single point in a monumental battle with Sam Joseph which the Swansea-based karter just won but Jason had the consolation of the ‘fastest lap’ challenge trophy to show he was still doing well.

Then came his phenomenal success in 2011 as he beat Adam Jones into second place and almost completed a clean sweep over the five rounds, which consist of six practice laps, three heats of 12 laps each, one from each of the three grids at the start, a 12-lap semi-final where only the top two go from each of them, and then the big race for honours.

2012 saw Jason take a break to start his running and cycling but he returned to action for this year and regained the silverware – and took another step forward in his karting career as he entered two of the rounds for the British Rental Karts Championship in Kent. He competed against more than 40 other aspiring karters and finished fifth in the first event and a very respectable seventh overall.

He and some other Pembrokeshire Karters have now set their sights on improving that position in 2014 and although taking part ‘up the line’ might mean he cannot compete in all the rounds locally it will give him a fresh challenge.

“The local championship organised by Royston Badham is brilliant,” said Jason, “because he organises it so well. I would recommend anyone who likes speed to give it a try – you only have to turn up and get every support from him, as I did.”

Now, however, Jason is going to spread his racing wings that little bit wider and we wish him every success because he will certainly fly the Pembrokeshire Flag with modesty, skill – and a great deal of speed!