CRESSING kart racer Tyrone Stansfield had to stage a recovery in the final race after suffering tyre woes in changeable weather as the 2017 birelART UK Series kicked off at Whilton Mill.

The 14-year-old Alec Hunter Academy pupil knew tyre choices would be key in wet and dry conditions in Northamptonshire and a good session in the rain saw him miss out on pole position by just 0.047 seconds.

Starting the heat race in second and in further wet weather, Stansfield had a good start and he finished it where he began to pick up early points.

The track had dried for the start of the pre-final, so slick tyres were on, but rain started again as the drivers waited to enter the grid and most changed to wet rubber just in time.

When the race began, though, the sun had come out and it became a task to manage tyres in the drying conditions.

Stansfield kept second place off the line, but after five laps he began to struggle as, although he had changed the tyres, he hadn't had time to change his kart's set up and gradually found himself being overtaken as he came home in 11th spot.

That was where he started the final race, which was again run on wet tyres, but the Cressing driver made up places to finish sixth for more valuable championship points.

He said: "Obviously I would have liked more, but I recovered fairly well and it was round one, so there's plenty of time to get those lost points back."

Round two will be at Shenington in Oxfordshire next month.

Stansfield thanked his sponsors K & B Tatam of Maldon, G & B Finch of Great Leighs, Kingwell Environmental of Long Green and BODYFIT4TRAINING of Witham.