MOTORSPORT: Setting a new lap record failed to lead champion kart racer Nathan Freke into a British Long Circuit 124 Superkart Championship victory at Cadwell Park.

The Kidderminster driver had to settle for second place in the second round but still holds a slender championship lead with eight races to go.

Freke won on the Cadwell club circuit earlier in the year but did not test on the full track which has an additional 1,000m winding through a woodland.

There was also no practice time for karts due to the meeting being a joint day with car racing.

The timed 10-minute qualifying session saw Freke third on the grid, nearly two seconds off the fastest kart.

He was having problems handling the kart, which slid around in the fast corners, but adjustments were made and Freke made a superb start in the first race.

He led on the first lap and held the position until the sliding began again, forcing him to be overtaken.

After finishing second, minor alterations were made and Freke was front man in the second race.

But on losing and regaining the lead on the second lap, handling problems resurfaced and he was pushed onto the grass by the second-placed kart.

Down to third, Freke fought for position and overtook to make second again with no chance of catching the leader. He did break the old lap record in the process though.

Freke was due to test in a rally car yesterday as part of a competition to find a new rally star.