Sixteen-year-old Luke Varley finished sixth out of 72 in his age group -but had it not been for two shunts he could have been even higher.

Luke, of Badgers Mount, Penda's Fields, Cross Gates, qualified for the Rotax Max World Championships after becoming British champion.

In the first heat he finished in fifth place and in the second sixth.

He was in second place in the third heat when another driver collided with his kartand because of the damage he had to leave the race a couple of laps later.

Had he finished in second place Luke would have started the pre-final in seventh place, but instead was next to last in 27th place.

Once again disaster struck when in the congestion at the first corner he was thrown out of the kart and his race ended there and then.

As a result Luke started the final from 31st, but had a really good drive and overtook 25 karts to finish sixth.

His dad, Richard, said: "There were champions from 55 countries taking part and if he could have started near the front where there isn't the same congestion we believe he would have had a very good chance of winning.

"As it was he was the best of the four British drivers, although he started behind them in the final."

Luke,who drives for Protrain International, moves up to seniors next year and aims to take part in the British and European Championships at that level - and hopefully the world championships.

But to do so he still needs sponsorship. Although his team looks after the kart Luke's family has to provide the cost of tyres, race entries, travel and the like and this adds up to thousands each year.

Gary Chapman, team manager of Protrain, said that Luke had the best racecraft of the drivers he had seen.

"When he has such a talent it would be a pity for him to miss out on going further because of a lack of funds," he said.

* Anyone who wants to help with sponsorship should contact Mr Varley on (0113) 2642547 or 0797 1286452.