A HOME-STRAIGHT collision denied Tom Ingram, left, victory in Round One of the Summer Series at Whilton Hall recently.

The Wycombe kart star had cut through the field to enter the final lap in the slip-steam of leader Edward Brand, but as he pulled out to sling-shot past him, a backmarker veered across the track to bring his challenge to a shuddering halt.

He said: "The last two races I've won haven't come easily, so I thought I had a chance. I knew I was capable of doing it and on the last lap I was close enough to get the tow.

"I took the corners perfectly - that race was going to be mine."

Ingram, the Wycombe and Marlow Sports Personality of the Year for 2007, held on for second place but after winning two of the three heats views that as a disappointment.

He said: "From the heats I was confident. I was really fired up and I said to Mike Kyriakides - Monodraught team owner, I'm going to win this'."

However, confusion at the start saw the 14-year-old, who was on pole, slip back through the field to fifth and he was just unable to make up the gap.

He said: "We've still got 44 race weekends left over the year, so I'm sure we can win a few more."

Ingram has bounced back with a win and second-placed finish in Winter Championship races at Kimbolton and Rye House.