Tom Harris blew away the opposition at the Norfolk Arena where a blistering drive saw him crowned F1 Stock Car Champion of the World.

A field of 90 F1 international stars were in action in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 fans.

The atmosphere was sky high when the world finalists were introduced to the crowd. When the race started Ryan Harrison (Kettering) got the jump on world champion Lee Fairhurst and after a lap, one of the big pre-race favourites Mick Sworder (Stevenage) found himself involved in a big crash with the United States visitor Josh Pelkey (Phoenix, Arizona) which saw the race suspended to allow the cars to be moved to safety.

Harrison led the restart, but two laps later Harris, who had been all over him, made a decisive move and shifted Harrison wide.

Harrison had no comeback and the Chipping Norton race ace was left to extend his lead lap by lap with a drive which was quite simply out of the top drawer.

Craig Finnikin (Leek) came through late and moved past Harrison to take second spot with five laps to go, but he had no chance of catching the leader, who won his first world title with a pressure free final five laps which he described as being 'the longest five laps of my life'.

'I built this car over the winter with one race in mind,' said Harrison. 'Many other drivers laughed at some of the ideas I have incorporated but look at what I have won now.'

Matt Newson's very slim chance of becoming the first East Anglian F1 Stock Car World Champion since Bob Reeve in 1958 were extinguished when he retired in the last chance consolation semi-final with mechanical problems when mounting a challenge for the lead. He did go on to win the Harry Smith Memorial Final and was then runner-up in the Grand National.