Battling kart starstays in title hunt

The Pett-based driver finished second and seventh in the penultimate round at the ultra-fast Three Sisters circuit, near Wigan.

In the qualifying shoot-out on day one, Barlow posted the fourth fastest time, and benefiting from his second row start for the day’s opening heat, won comfortably.

His reward for third place in the next heat was pole position for the day’s final. An untidy start saw Barlow drop to fifth, but a characteristically gritty fightback earned him a second place finish.

The Rye College student didn’t drive particularly well in coming fifth in the first heat on day two, however, and an electrical problem prevented him from taking part in the second heat.

That meant he had to start from the last row of the 22-kart grid for the final, but despite limited overtaking opportunities, Barlow showed his strength of character to take the chequered flag seventh.

“I was relatively pleased,” he said afterwards. “The team worked extremely hard to cure the problem and it’s thanks to them that I was able to make the most of the situation and come through the traffic so well.”

The final round of the series will take place at Ellough Park in Suffolk, a circuit known for producing exciting, close racing but not one the drivers compete at very often.

Barlow added: “I’ve just got to concentrate on my own performance, go out there and do the very best I can - and hopefully, the rest will follow.”