Congratulations to Northern Irish National Hot Rod star 962 John Christie, the new World Champion!

Christie came through on top at the Spedeweekend in the C P Dynes National Hot Rod Championship of the World and will carry the gold roof for the next year. It had looked in the latter stages like favourite 115 Chris Haird was going to win it - he had qualified on grid 2 with defending champion 9 Glenn Bell on pole with Christie on grid 5 behind 174 Jason Kew and 117 Rob McDonald.

Glenn Bell set the early pace and led for the opening third of the race before Haird made his attack round the outside and took the lead. At one stage it looked like Christie was losing ground on the leading trio of Haird, Bell and Kew, as Haird stretched away.

Disaster struck though for Haird as he clipped the spinning back marker Jack Blood which put him out of the race, Kew briefly took over but Christie had taken advantage of the confusion with 115 going out and had made his way onto the tail of 174, and passed him for the lead he was never to relinquish!

Well done also to the other podium finishers, 174 Jason Kew, 9 Glenn Bell and 304 Danny Fiske.

Thanks to Chris Berry for the photos!