Wrotham based Motorbase Performance have announced that they are launching a Junior Kart Team for 2013.

It is part of a drive by the Kent base team to expand its support of talented young British motorsport drivers.

This follows on from last year’s test day with local teenagers Jake Hill and Tom Grainger, and its newly formed partnership with Dunlop which will see two young Formula Ford drivers and the Renault Clio Cup champion rewarded for their excellent driving.

As they will be given a test in the Ford Focus Next Generation Touring cars, this as Motorbase announce they will be supporting 13-year-old Bethany Abbott in the MSA MiniMax Karting class where she will compete at club level.

Bethany who is from just up the road in London began Karting when she was eight years old and makes the transition from the 4 stroke Honda cadets to compete in the more powerful class with 2 stroke Rotax engines.

She will be working alongside engineer Matt Cooley who is also her driver coach and there will be additional support from the experienced squad at Motorbase.

London-based Bethany, who first started karting at the age of 8, makes the transition from the 4 stroke Honda cadets to compete in the more powerful 2 stroke Rotax engine machines for 2013, where she’ll be working alongside driver coach and engineer Matt Cooley with additional support from the Motorbase squad.

Speaking about her pride at becoming part of the Motorbase squad, Bethany said: ““Being part of the Motorbase family at the start of my motorsport career means a lot to me. It’ll give me the stepping stones to further my driving career and give me the chance to not only learn my race-craft but also to understand the technical side of racing at all levels from Karting, Touring Cars and GT’s.

“I really can’t thank David, Barbara and all of the Motorbase team enough for this opportunity and tremendous start to my motorsport career.”

Motorbase are backing the best of the British Motorsport and Team Principal Dave Bartrum himself a former Ford Saloon racer knows how hard it is for young drivers to make their way in the sport.

He said: “As a front-running team in the BTCC and British GT, I strongly believe that we have a duty to assist young drivers looking to take the first steps in their motorsport career. I know first-hand how tough it can be for young drivers to get the funding and support needed to succeed in motorsport but we need the talent to keep coming through so it’s up to teams like Motorbase to help them make their mark.

“2013 is a big year for us in every aspect of what we’re involved in and everyone at Motorbase is behind Bethany 100%; hopefully with our support she can achieve her goal and make that step up to next level of racing.”