By Matt Gale

DRAMA in the penultimate meeting of the season provided a twist in the Honda Cadet title fight as Dalton Haywood claimed victory at Clay Pigeon Raceway.

Charles Green, Hugh Moulton and Harrison Whitticombe kept the crowds guessing but Haywood provided a curveball.

Honda Cadet is open to any young driver from the age of six to 13 and can be competed in at all local karting clubs throughout the UK.

Growing in popularity with numbers increasing yearly, the category is seen by many as the very first stepping stone on the motorsport ladder and a great way to gain experience before moving up to the junior and senior ranks.

Moulton had dominated the first heat taking the lead early on during the opening lap with Freddie Baker moving up strongly to challenge. Baker sadly faded away allowing Whitticombe to move into second and a recovering Cameron Nelson to take third having started on the front row.

The second heat was more closely contested with no fewer than five lead changes during the 13-lap race.

Amelie Acketts had started on pole but struggled to stay with the front pack having fallen to seventh on the opening lap. Green moved from fourth to first with a brilliant start holding on until lap five when Haywood took the lead from him.

On lap nine, Haywood went wide slipping down to fourth before a superb comeback drive saw him charge through on the line to take the win away from Moulton, crossing the line just two hundredths of a second apart.

With Jonathan Pigott in third and Green fourth, the top four finished less than half a second from each other.

Heat three provided more of the same as Whitticombe took the lead off the line from fifth, chased hard by Jack West.

Within four laps Haywood had made his way to third and passed both West and Whitticombe to for the lead.

Whitticombe was not giving up on the victory and pushed Haywood incredibly hard taking the fastest lap in the process but just missing out on the victory; that honour went to Haywood for the second time.

If the early heats where to provide clues as to which drivers were to watch for then what occurred in the final would certainly deliver one of the day’s most entertaining races and surely a contender for race of the season.

Haywood would lead the field around on the parade lap but by the exit of Billy’s Blind had dropped behind Moulton with Whitticombe keeping a close eye on him looking for an opportunity to present itself.

With Moulton now leading followed closely by Whitticombe, who had found a way past Haywood for second on lap five, the race would take place on a calm demeanour over the next few laps.

On lap 11 Whitticombe attempted a late pass for the lead on Haywood but instead ran loose allowing Moulton to take second.

Moments later Moulton tried a pass to retake second and in doing so put both himself and Whitticome out wide allowing Charles Green to take third before running off on the grass, returning the order to Haywood, Moulton, Whitticombe and Green.

With Moulton now dropping to fourth, Green took his chance cementing the final place on the podium with a well-timed move.

As the last laps counted down attention in the paddock grew and many of those competing higher up could be seen watching with interest from the side of the circuit.

As they entered the final lap it was all to play for; Haywood holding on dearly for the win with Whitticombe close behind and championship leader Green now in third.

Down the back straight Whitticombe went for it looking to pass Haywood and on the outside of the Horseshoe the pair touched, running slightly wide and an opportunity opened up for Green to make his move.

Through Button they went side-by-side each looking for a better run off the corner.

All four drivers were scrapping for the win and Haywood just held off the chasing pack to take victory from a jubilant Green and Moulton.

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