Twelve-year-old Finlay Strang stayed calm to land his maiden karting title - by a point.

Strang, from Leybourne, won the Bayford Meadows Junior Club Championship in the Silverstone class.

A fiercely competitive category saw seven different drivers top the podium during the eight-round series.

Strang won round five and finished on the podium four more times, with his consistency proving decisive.

He held a four-point lead over closest rival Zavier Abraham going into the championship finale, which took place in torrential rain.

Abraham drove brilliantly to win the round, with Strang soaking up intense pressure to finish second and clinch the title by 302-301.

Strang finished third in his debut season in 2021 and runner-up last year to Kings Hill racer Thomas Merritt.

“It felt great to win the championship after three years of trying,” said Strang.

“The last round was a bit nerve-racking but I still managed to pull it off. It was tough.

“I like going fast, I like being at the top end, I like being on the straight and feeling the wind go against me.

“I just love it, really. I’m quite a competitive person, so I like to win and I don’t like to lose.

“I’ve got good plans for the future. I’m looking to join a national championship next year and hopefully I do well in that.”

Strang’s dad, Simon, has been around motorsport for most of his life.

He was motorsport correspondent for the Kent Messenger from 1991-94 and now does PR for Aston Martin Racing, as well as owning his own motorsport PR and media agency.

He can speak with authority on the sport and believes Bayford Meadows, the Sittingbourne track where Strang won his title, deserve praise for their work with young drivers.

“Their junior academy is an outstanding and affordable way for parents to introduce their kids to karting,” said Simon.

“The costs for a year are around £150 per month and the effort Ian Ward and his team put into educating the young drivers is exceptional.

“As a motorsport professional, I couldn't have found a better, friendlier place for Finn to start out his career.”

Strang will enter the national Club 100 championship in the cadet lightweight division next year.

He also plans to race in TKM historic owner-karts and is considering other opportunities.

He’s working with Base Performance Simulators to develop his driving skills and receive coaching and is sponsored by Omicron Repro, a Canterbury-based printing company.