TONY GILSON has been crowned Europa 125cc Karting Champion for the second year running.

The man from Netley Abbey won four rounds and powered his way on to the podium seven times to clinch the hotly-contested Europa Challenge.

And it was doubly difficult this year, with the Challenge and National Championship rounds combined.

But Gilson secured the crown in the last but one meeting from a competitive field which included Nick Wright, another front-running driver from Southampton.

Gilson's title-winning kart is powered by a Gilera six-speed motorcycle engine and has an Italia Motori chassis.

"Everyone is using identical equipment," says Gilson, "so it's a matter of chassis set-up, engine tuning and driver skill which proves decisive in the end.

"Most club tracks are using transponder and computer lap-counting so some very close finishes were recorded."

Gilson got his defence of the title he first won in 1999 off to a good start with a second place on his home track at Forest Edge in Ringwood. He then won at Kilbolton in Cambridgeshire after a race-long battle in which the lead changed hands several times.

It was Gilson's early-season form that really put him in the driving seat as far as the championship was concerned.

He was first over the line at Dunkerswell near Exeter, took second at Shenington and won again at Three Sisters in Manchester, where he obtained maximum points by winning both heats and the final for good measure.

Those results cushioned him against a retirement at Whilton Mill near Silverstone - then more podium finishes followed at Lydd (third) and Fulbeck (second), where his Southampton rival Wright was the winner.

It wasn't all plain sailing for Gilson, though. He spun off twice and only managed ninth at Rissington, retired with a clutch problem at Fulbeck and came in tenth with worn-out wet tyres at Rye House.

But he had new tyres for another wet meeting at Buckmore Hill in East London, which he won to close in on the title. And third spot at the next meeting at Whilton Mill gave him enough points to secure the crown. Just for good measure he was second in the last race at Sheninton.

Now Gilson says he is going for a hat-trick of title wins next year.

"I moved into my own home in Netley Abbey this year so money and time for karting was a bit restricted," he said.

But, with the 12 best results from 20 scores to count, Gilson had time enough to beat the best in his class.