MALMESBURY racer Louis Harvey made an encouraging start to his Superone British Karting Championships career despite a disappointing ending at Rowrah in Cumbria.

The 12-year-old, stepping up from club racing to the top karting competition in the country, qualified 14th out of 30 drivers and despite aqua-planing off the track in the first heat, recovered to finish 20th.

In heat two, Harvey finished 13th before Sunday’s pre-final and final were put back due to the poor weather.

Having qualified 16th, a mistake saw him drop to last, but with lap times that made him fifth fastest on track, he got back to 17th position by the finish.

Lining up 17th for the final, Harvey was caught up in traffic before his left front wheel was hit, forcing him back to the pits and leaving him in 21st position.