KARTING: Abbi has girl power

The 13-year-old went into the final round at the PFI circuit in Newark full of confidence.

After being very fast in free practice she qualified in second.

Heat one was a turning point, though, getting knocked off the track for her first non-score of the year.

Heat two and sixth place meant that she started in 13th for the pre-final race but she claimed a fourth-place finish.

Going into the meeting final, her championship rival only needed 11th place to win the title but an early incident dropped him well down with Abbi challenging for the lead.

Going into the last lap he was only in 14th place but two overtakes and then a collision between two competitors on the last corner meant he finished in 10th and took the title by two points.

Abbi’s achievement has prompted sponsors Tal-ko Racing and Banzai Events to back her again in 2017.