Essex racer Lochlan Bearman maintained his championship lead after finishing second in round three of the Hunts Kart Racing Club Championship at Kimbolton.

The 13-year-old went into the third round having enjoyed back-to-back wins at Kimbolton but admitted a third consecutive victory was always unlikely.

He said: “It was so unpredictable; the grip levels and amount of braking were changing lap by lap.

“I would have liked to get three wins in a row but that rarely happens in this sport and I am happy to come away with a second and maintain my championship lead. I have learnt a lot this weekend.”

Next up for Bearman is a trip to Belgium this weekend to take part in the Junior Rotax category for the first time.

The Theydon Bois racer will go head-to-head against drivers with far greater experience than his own at the circuit in Genk but is relishing the challenge nonetheless.

He said: “It is an amazing time for me and I know how lucky I am to have the support of my family, friends and teammates.

“I’m determined to give it my best on every lap and I desperately want to win every time I go out, as that’s the best way I can repay all the sacrifices my family are making.

“Throughout all of this I will still be supporting CLIC Sargent, the children’s cancer charity.”

Sunday started with unexpected technical issues and Bearman’s team worked furiously to get the kart running before the first heat.

In heat one, Bearman started last and on the back row of the grid. After being slightly delayed at the start, he used the new chassis to its maximum to come through the field to finish third.

He started the second heat on pole position and led from start to finish without coming under any threat.

Those results put him in second place for the final. But half-an-hour before the start, the heavens opened, leaving Bearman and his team with the difficult decision of how to set up the kart whilst using a new chassis for the first time. The decision was to go with wet gearing, wet tyres and to add mechanical grip to the kart.

At the start Bearman exited the first corner in third and made his move before the end of the first lap to claim second. By lap eight, Bearman was within striking distance of the lead and by lap nine, he had moved to the front.

Rival drivers were struggling for grip as their wet tyres got too hot and started to overheat, dramatically reducing the available grip. However, Bearman only led for one lap before a teammate, Harrison Huggan, got through as they went into Bus Stop Corner.

On the final lap Bearman looked to have got himself into a perfect position only to drift a little wide exiting the Willows and his chance was gone, leaving him to finish second.