MOTORSPORT: British champion Nathan Freke finished sixth after switching to the first running of a new class at Little Rissington.

Freke tested himself against the UK's top drivers in the European ICC class for six-speed gearbox engines which has restricted tuning rules, providing less power than his normal kart.

His team manager suggested the change in a bid to see if the electric-start Europa kart would be competitive at the new level.

The Kidderminster driver could not test the kart on practice day and had to start mid-grid in the first qualifying heat.

Freke was soon racing against karts which had the benefit of testing and a superior straight line speed but he drove well through the technical parts of the track to finish 10th.

Adjustments were made to a faulty gearbox and the next heat saw Freke on grid four, finishing fifth despite continuing kart problems.

His race mechanics changed the engine and gearbox in time for the third heat but the kart rolled to a stop with a broken ignition lead, leaving him only able to complete the last two laps.

The mix of results put Freke 13th in the A final where a good opening saw him quickly into eighth.

Still lacking speed, he set about catching the karts but was only able to finish sixth after a back marker hit him.

Freke drives a new kart at Donington Park this weekend to prepare for the start of the long circuit season in late March.