Robert was undeterred by an engine failure at last weekend’s Winter Cup at Lonato in Italy and is aiming high for his first season racing as a Senior in the European Kart Championship. Competing as a member of the Italian Maranello team for the first time was an immediate boost to Robert’s confidence and he is looking forward to learning from his new teammate, multiple World Champion Davide Fore.

A change in the engine formula for 2007 has thrown the competition wide open and every team was in the position of getting to know something new. “The Vortex is more forgiving and my engine, the IAME Parilla, is just as fast but harder to get right,” said Robert. Teething problems are to be expected and Robert’s race was run after a nylon part in the engine melted during the semi-final.

With over seventy entries, 8th and 9th place finishes in his two heats were impressive and gave him a 12th place starting position for his semi-final. Halfway through the 14-lap race, running in the top ten, he suddenly slowed and limped back to the pits with a smoking engine. As only the top half of the field were to qualify for the final there was nothing for Robert to do for the rest of the day but watch fellow Meath karter Gary Thompson race to 20th in the main race.

Robert’s next race will be the Margutti Trophy, again in Italy in two weeks time, and this season he will be doing most of his racing in Italy and France.