Race fans braved the wet weather at the weekend to watch sixty of the UK’s fastest amateur go karters go head-to-head.

Despite intermittent showers, crowds of people ventured to Buckmore Park in Chatham on Saturday (October 27) for the UK final of the Red Bull Kart Fight 2012.

Buckmore park has previously been the training ground for such racing luminaries as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

The racers present on the day made it through previous rounds of the competition at their local race-tracks, for the chance to represent the UK in the international finals, to be held in Italy.

After a tense start, the drivers focused their eyes on the prize in an effort to win the much acclaimed title of Red Bull Kart Fight UK Champion.

After a lot of sweat, burnt rubber and bumper to bumper action it was Joe Richardson from Basildon in Essex who took the well-deserved title in 08.02.07 minutes in a gripping seven lap fight to the finish line.

Coming a close second was David Pittard from Letchworth in Hertfordshire with Matt Cornwall from Dartford stealing third place.

The lucky winner, Joe, secured the exclusive UK spot in the Red Bull Kart Fight World Final taking place in Bologna in December, where he’ll have the chance to add the World Champion trophy to his cabinet.

All three podium winners have also won a trip to the Red Bull Racing factory where they’ll hang out with the F1 team to get top race tips and have the opportunity to train on the famous F1 simulator used regularly by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber as part of their rigorous training regime.

Joe Richardson, Red Bull Kart Fight UK Winner said: "It’s awesome to win the championship, I feel very proud. It’s a pleasure to be representing the UK in the Red Bull Kart Fight World Final, I’ll be sure to put up a good fight in Italy."

For more information on the competition, click here.