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Javier Villa and Sam Bird treat the crowd to a master class in karting excellence

The first ever karting Race for Life attracted a dazzling mix of talent from single seaters, touring cars, Moto GP and more.

Trackside’s Keith Collantine reports on the race – and Michael Schumacher’s successful return to karting in Brazil.

“When they got here they were acting like it was just a bit of fun,” the event organiser told me. “But look how hard they’re trying!”

The organisers have attracted an intriguing mix of talent including multiple GP2 race winner Javier Villa. GP2 is widely regarded as the best route to F1 - and all the previous champions have graduated to the upper echelon, including Lewis Hamilton.

All the drivers are racing to win, whether they’re up-and-coming stars of
The future or established racers with their names already etched on championship trophies.

Swiss Alain Menu, twice a British touring car champion, is cursing his lack of karting experience and struggling to get to grips with the greasy track.

Others like British Formula Three race winner Sam Bird left karting only four years ago. He is on the pace straight away.

Villa sets the pace in qualifying and wins the first heat despite strong pressure from Ben Hanley, another talented young British driver.

But the action really kicks off in the second race, where the grid is reversed and Stacey McMahon finds herself on pole position. James Jakes tries an optimistic move to pass her at the first corner, and crashes out spectacularly along with Renault Development Driver Romain Grosjean.

Villa and Bird pick their way through the carnage to claim the front row for the Grand Final – with Bird on pole.

The Briton makes a poor getaway, however, and is taken by Villa and Riki Christodoulou. After barging past the latter Bird latches onto Villa and the Spaniard can do nothing to shift him.

The pair treat the crowd to a master class in karting excellence. Villa teases Bird by holding a wider, faster line around the fastest corner, inviting the Briton to make a hasty lunge for the lead. Bird sits millimetres from his rival’s bumper, willing him into a mistake.

Villa is rock-solid in defence, however, and never puts a wheel wrong on his way to victory.

Meanwhile in Brazil a similar race was being held by Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa. He invited a roster of F1 drivers including Rubens Barrichello and Nelson Piquet Jnr. The latter finished second behind seven-times F1 champion Michael Schumacher

Schumacher will be heading to British shores for the Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium on 16th December where he will compete against F1 drivers Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Sebastian Vettel and more.

Read what happened to Javier Villa next in the Auto Trader Blog.