World karting record smashed by Staffordshire University graduate

THE WORLD record for driving a kart solo for 24 hours has been smashed by a Staffordshire University graduate.

Lloyd de Boltz-Miller, who studied BSc(Hons) Motorsport Technology, already held the British and European records for the most distance covered in a kart in one day.

Now he has added the world record to his list of achievements after equalling the previous record with more than three hours of circuit time to spare.

He covered an extra 137km on top of the previous distance, setting a total of 1,289.12km (801.38miles) in 24 hours.

Lloyd, 25, from Norwich, said: “It’s a massive amount over the previous record. Our target was always to smash it. We were looking to take it by a large amount but then I had to remember that it was a world record for a reason.

“But to take a world record on one of the toughest circuits in the UK was not a bad day in the office.”

Lloyd chose his favourite circuit to break the record on, Whilton Mill Kart Track in Northamptonshire. He completed 1151 laps.

He said: “The circuit is the most physical in the UK. There are other circuits that would have lent themselves better, with longer straights and distances, but fundamentally I love driving Whilton so that’s why I went there.”

Staffordshire University was one of the sponsors for the event and it was during Lloyd’s studies that he broke the British and European records last year.

He said: “My degree set me forward when pushing on with the task of breaking the world record. I learnt different skills and principles in the different modules on the course and, being the racing team manager, these really helped. I couldn’t have achieved the record without them. My degree has been fundamental.”

Lloyd, who used the event to promote charity The Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, is not done with his world record breaking endeavours and is currently training for his next challenge.

He plans to race a Porsche Carrera Cup racing car flat out for 24 hours in the Middle East next year.

He added: “We’ve got to move on and push forward to capitalise on what we’ve achieved this year.”