Tom Joyner was left reflecting on his most consistent season in kart racing despite not ending it with the CIK-FIA World Championship title that he was hoping for in Italy.

The 22-year-old from Braintree was looking to become CIK-FIA world champion for a second time in the KF class – which is considered as the Formula One of karting – at La Conca last weekend, but tyre problems meant he had to settle for fourth place in the final standings.

It was disappointing for Joyner, who works in the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Braintree, but having finished second in the CIK-FIA European Championships and then fourth at the Worlds, he felt it had still been a strong year overall.

Joyner, who drives for the Strakka Bhiatech team, said: “It was a bit disappointing really as we thought we would win it.

“We had been fast in the heats and qualifying, but then had to change the tyres for the final and just couldn’t find the speed we needed from them in the middle part of the final.

“Everyone changes tyres for the final, but for some reason we struggled and we’ll have to look at why that happened in the coming weeks.

“Maybe it was our set-up was too soft on them as you have to look after the tyres in the longer heat rounds but the “I just struggled for speed in the corners so that was disappointing, but I feel I did the best I could.

“Having started third in the final I did take the lead after the second or third lap, but I slipped back to fifth as I struggled for pace in the middle part and ended up in fourth at the end after someone else had problems as well.

“However, it’s the fourth year in a row that I’ve been fighting at the front for the world championship title, so that’s pleasing.

“Fourth in the Worlds and second in the Europeans isn’t a bad return and I actually feel it’s the most consistent season that I’ve had.

“I have been at the front in every single race and fighting not only for podiums, but for race wins.

“There’s probably no other driver who could say that as those who did well at the Europeans didn’t at the Worlds and those who did well at the Worlds struggled in the Europeans.”

Joyner said he would now be returning to Braintree before ending his season with a one-off outing with the Strakka Bhiatech team in a round of the Australian Championships next month.