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Jordan Chamberlain sensationally won the European KF2 Karting Championship at Essay, France, after starting the Prefinal in 29th place and making up 22 places, then gaining another seven in the main Final.

The weekend started with timed Qualifying on Friday afternoon where Jordan secured 17th overall, which gave him about seventh on the grid for his heats, which select the 34 finalists.

In the heats Jordan had some bad luck and in this highly competitive field he slipped back to 29th on the grid for the Prefinal.

But in the Prefinal his fortunes changed when he successfully negotiated a first-corner pile-up and came out in eighth. Another place made up gave Jordan seventh and a highly coveted inside starting position for the championship-deciding race.

“Qualifying 17th wasn’t great and after the heats I was 29th, but coming seventh in the Prefinal gave me confidence for the Final,” said Jordan.

When the Final started, there was another crash which he was also able to avoid, and he came out of the second corner second, although the leader Matteo Vigano (Italy) was already a long way off.

Halfway through, the race was neutralized with Slow signs and yellow flags, so the competitors drove round in formation while an accident was cleared.

“I was nervous while the yellows were out as I’d had a bit of luck at the start and I wasn’t sure if I was fast enough to be at the front. However, once the green flag drops the nerves always go,” said Jordan. It quickly became evident that he was fast enough and he pulled away from the group fighting for third. The race finished with Jordan still in second.

“When I got in to the pits someone shouted over the fence that there was a chance that I was European Champion as Vigano had taken the rolling start too quickly. It’s the best feeling in the world,” he described after the decision had been confirmed.

Jordan cites his team Williams Motorsport as the main influence on his success, and is planning to compete in the World Cup at Alcaniz in Spain next month, as well as continuing to defend his lead in the British Championship where there are two rounds to go.