YOUNG Wiltshire racer Louis Harvey topped the podium when he returned to PFI International in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the weekend.

After the kind efforts of Dan Bailey Builders on Friday to drag the family caravan out of the snow and onto a road, Malmesbury’s Harvey headed for PFI International Kart circuit for a round of their winter series.

PFI will feature on the new 2019 Motorsport UK British Karting Championship, so Harvey was keen to get there to fine tune his setup.

Holding the fastest lap for most of timed qualifying, Harvey put in two purple sectors in the final lap but was blocked by a back marker, which allowed two other drivers to pip him for pole.

Undeterred, Harvey started both heats from third on the grid. In heat one he was quickly into the lead and after swapping positions a few times, was back at the front until lap six where a mistake which allowed two chasing karts to get past and he crossed the line third.

Harvey was again into the lead quickly in heat two before being chased down by Connor Kearney and eventually having to settle for second over the line.

When the points were added up, Harvey and Kearney were on the front row of the grid, and as the lights went green on the rolling start, there was a lot of jostling for position.

Kearney eventually took the lead, but Harvey challenged hard and a brave move saw him push his way to the front, a position he held until the chequered flag.

This put the Klaassen Motorsport ARC Shadow Kart on top of the podium for the second win of the year and Harvey’s second podium visit in his first two races of 2019.

Harvey is in need of more sponsorship for 2019. Anyone interested in supporting him can visit www.louisharvey.com/sponsorship for more information.