Chris Derrick established himself as one of the finest kart racers in the region when he retained the Two Counties Formula Blue Championship at Hullavington near Swindon.

The Chandler's Ford racer has now won the title three years running and in the long and exciting history of the competition this has only been achieved once before.

"I'm proud to have done it again," said Derrick. "The Two Counties Kart Club members include current and ex-national champions so the standard of driving is very high."

The seven-round series started back in March and a combination of consistently good results swept him through to the final event where a win and a second place in the heats were enough to secure him the title.

Derrick has gone from strength to strength this year after an incredible start to the season which saw him finish first in one of the national qualifying rounds.

He followed up with a creditable third place in the NKRA National Finals where the top three drivers were in a league of their own. In the final they lapped the entire grid up to fifth place.

Next season will see Derrick running with the number three plate, a great honour as only nationally seeded drivers can use number one to 15.

Three-times Matchams kart champion Derrick has now won six major championships in succession making him Hampshire's top driver in the Formula Blue Class.

"It's been another terrific season," says Derrick, "but I couldn't have done it without my sponsors Peter Green Furnishings, Abbey Park Cars, Rock Oil, Argonaut Powder Coatings and Foxcraft Engineering."

To cap a special year Derrick's wife presented him with a baby daughter Lucy. "I thought there'd be a few sleepless nights and I would struggle to stay focused, but she has been as good as gold," he smiles.