IT was a case of what might have been for Whilton Mill Karting Club’s reigning champion Finlay Lines as he returned to the Northamptonshire venue.
Taking part in the January Winter Warm Up event, the Lichfield youngster set the fifth fastest time in qualifying to put himself on the third row for both of the heat races.
Contact from behind going into the first corner of the first heat meant that Lines would drop down to last, leaving him with a fightback on his hands – and he didn’t disappoint by taking an important top ten finish.
The second heat saw the field start on slicks before the rain arrived, providing a new challenge as everyone tried to make it to the finish. Battling the conditions, Lines worked eventually finished in seventh.
Starting the final from eighth on the grid, the city racer progressed forward and was running in fourth place with three laps to go when his day was ended after being given a technical flag because of a sidepod that had worked its way loose due to contact earlier in the race.