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Incident at Milton Keynes track also involved champion driver Teddy Gohil and associates
A karting driver has been charged with assault after an incident at the Milton Keynes circuit that saw a driver attacked in a qualifying round and two other men injured.
Malcolm Robinson, 20, of Slough, Berkshire, will appear at Milton Keynes magistrates court on Wednesday on two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Thames Valley police said.
He was part of the UK Karting World Championship at the Buckland Court karting circuit on Friday.
Karting world champion Teddy Gohil and his friends attacked by the driver. Photograph: PA
Two of Teddy Gohil’s associates were also attacked in the incident. Gohil, the champion driver, sustained minor injuries while two others suffered “a number of facial injuries”, police said.
The incident occurred during the qualifying round for the British championship on Friday night.
Gohil escaped with minor injuries after being punched by the driver who drove off.
Gohil, a championship holder in multiple karting series, won the British series in 2010 and 2011 and was runner-up the following year.
His sister Francesca was reportedly in the Porsche pit area and got involved in a fight with the kart driver.
Police said it was alleged that Robinson “attacked Mr Gohil and his friends in the Porsche pits after being overtaken by them”.
A breathalyser test showed that Robinson was over the legal alcohol limit.
Supt Mark Warrender said: “Our investigation into this violent assault is at an early stage but we believe the driver that caused the injury to Teddy Gohil was at his own karting track with three of his friends when they met Mr Gohil’s associates.
“The aggressive reaction of the driver caused them to assault Teddy Gohil and then everyone else involved and force their way into the pit lane.
“In addition, it was alleged that all four men got involved in a fight during the second qualifying session at about 6.30pm when Teddy Gohil was deliberately knocked over.
“We have a specialist team working on this case but officers will also be out and about with our patrols following this incident to offer reassurance to local people.”