Benjy Russell fulfilled a dream at the weekend by winning the British Karting championship. The 21-year-old from Tydd St Giles, near Wisbech, was crowned junior champion in 2001.

Benjy Russell fulfilled a dream at the weekend by winning the British Karting championship.

The 21-year-old from Tydd St Giles, near Wisbech, was crowned junior champion in 2001.

Now, six year later and thinking the title would elude him, Russell has completed an impressive double.

"I won the championship as a junior in 2001 when I was 15.

"I was unable to display my number one plate on my kart the following season as my weight meant I was too heavy to compete, so I moved up to senior," Russell said.

"I've won the British Open twice (2001 & 2006) and the British Kart Grand Prix in 2002.

"I was beginning to think a second British title would elude me, as I have come fourth in the last four years.

"As you can imagine I am delighted".

The British champion-ship is run over six rounds at six different circuits throughout Britain each year.

The Karting championships have been run by "Super 1" series for the last 25 years under the rules of the MSA (Motor Sports Association).

Russell entered the last round on Sunday 80 points clear of his nearest rival but because the championship allows competitors to drop a round it meant Hull's Michael Simpson, the reigning British champion, was equal on points.

Despite an unsuccessful protest from Simpson after he crashed out of heat two and claimed Russell was the cause of the incident, the Cambridgeshire man claimed the title from the champion by a final margin of 37 points.

However, to quell any murmurings about his success, Russell entered the final race.

It was decision that put his title at risk as any sort of contact or mechanical defect could exclude him from the meeting.

But after a poor start, Russell recovered to finish second to keep hold of the championship.

He will now represent Great Britain in the Rotax World Championships at the end of November in the United Arab Emirates.