Awesome Alfie secures a brilliant podium finish at the British Championships

The 11 year-old started the race last of the 20 competitors on the grid, but picked his way through the field to claim an astonishing third place finish, the best result of his career.

Alfie started at the back of the pack after a four-kart shunt which put him out of action in qualifying.

What had looked like another good showing from the 11-year-old youngster - he had been awarded the top rookie troohy inthe first British Championship event - appeared to have been dashed, but while others may have given up and taken an early shower, not Alfie Garford, if anything it gave him more grit and determination to go out there and prove his worth.

Alfie Garford with the spoils of his latest success.

And his recovery was quite breathtaking.

Alfie had picked off a few drivers by the time they completed the first lap. He slowly continued to do this over the next eight or nine 9 laps until he found himself in 7th position. A remarkable recovery which would give him some good championship points, and with a big gap to the lead 6, it looked like this would be the best he could hope for.

But that’s not the mentality of this youngster and with only a few laps remaining, he knew if he put in some blistering, qualifying style laps, get his head down and hope the lead pack began to scrap and slow each other down, he could catch them. And that’s exactly what happened! He was now on the back bumper of sixth place going into the last lap. Two corners later he was up to fifth! And then later in the lap, with some overtaking and contact from drivers just in front Alfie was able to come home in an outstanding 3rd place!

Alfie said: “I knew my pace was good, so I just had to stay out of trouble and get through the field.

“The racing is so close in this class that it’s rare for a leader to pull away from the pack so I never gave up chasing them down as I knew I could snatch some places towards the end.”

Alfie is the youngest competitor in the under 16 event.

The final British Championship takes place on October 24/25 near Grantham.