TEENAGER Ryan Edwards from Haverfordwest has been crowned Junior TKM Welsh Karting Champion at the end of last month.

After celebrating two podiums in the British Championship in succession, the 15 year old completed the hat trick by winning the prestigious ‘C’ plate, (Cymraeg). This plate replaces the race number, nationally recognised as ‘Welsh Champion’.

The venue was Llandow Kart Club near Cardiff; Ryan won the heats, pre-final and final after a very close battle. Ryan secured first place with a manoeuvre rally enthusiasts would have been proud of. “I led the final until the second to last lap, I was overtaken and fell to third, but I wasn’t worried as I knew my speed would improve from the draught of those in front of me,” he told Telegraph Sport.

“I made it easily back in to second but as the ‘last lap’ board came up, I knew I was running out of time. I had roughly 5 kart lengths to make up on the last lap, and thankfully I put a perfect lap in which gave me a good tow down the main straight.

“I figured my best opportunity to take the lead, was to out brake the leader and get a perfect exit from the last corner. I pulled off a textbook challenge, producing a sort of ‘Scandinavian flick’ in to the last corner from a braking point I never thought possible!

“I am a very proud Welshman who won the Welsh Championship. The C plate will be placed on the kart with pride for the rest of the British Championship and other events until next year.”

Ryan has won the Celtic Challenge on two occasions in two different classes, but the Welsh Champ title is even greater.

Ryan’s father Alex said: “The Edwards family are very proud of Ryan, his race craft keeps on improving and the trophies are getting bigger. It was our personal goal to clinch the Welsh title, so to see Ryan actually manage it was an emotional moment.

“Karting is a great sport, which I recommend to anyone with children interested in motorsport to undertake. I would like to thank Chris Philpot of Building and Land Services in Pembrokeshire for his valuable assistance and the support from work colleagues and friends.”