As you’ll know if you’ve been following these pages over the last couple of months, our young compatriot, Stefanos Charalambous, has been steadily establishing himself in the competitive world of kart racing. But it certainly hasn’t all been plain sailing, with circumstances conspiring to rob him of victory on more than one occasion.

However, Stef has been performing consistently, and 4 podium finishes in the last 4 races have testified to this consistency. So, coming into the climax of the PF International Winter Championships, Stef’s steady accumulation of points meant that he was actually in with a chance of winning the Championship.

It was all to play for as he and his rivals were all within a few points of each other, and in practice Stef showed just why he was a contender for the title, clocking some great times. However, Lady Luck decided to make him work hard for this as, in Time Qualifying on the Sunday, he had a puncture and could only achieve the 9th fastest time.

This was bad, but things were about to get worse in the Pre-Final. Starting in 10th place, Stef shot up to 4th within the first lap, and was about to attempt another overtaking manoeuvre, when the race Marshalls flagged him out of the race because his chain guard came off! He had to go into the pits for this to be replaced, and could only rejoin – and finish – the race in last position.

Tough luck. But it got tougher!

The rules state that drivers finishing in the last places in the Pre-Final can’t enter the Final unless they race again and qualify as one of the first 4 finishers in a B-Final. Stef saw his chances of winning the Winter Championship slipping further away. But in typical Stef fashion, he gritted his teeth – and promptly blew his opposition away as he comfortably won the race.

So, qualification for the Final was achieved. Unfortunately, the day’s misfortunes had caught up with Stef, and he had to start from way down in 33rd place on the grid. It was going to take a minor miracle for him wrestle the Championship away from his rivals.

So that’s just what Stef gave us!

In the course of the Final’s 13 laps he brilliantly overtook kart after kart with some audacious driving, clocking up one of the day’s fastest lap times in the process, and rising 21 places to eventually finish 12th. And 12th place carried enough points for Stef to win the Championship!

Stef has had some tough breaks over the course of the last few months, but through it all he has developed a steely resolve which has helped him to be the most consistent driver in his class. And it is exactly this consistency which has helped him become the PF International Winter Champion 2013/2014.

Well done, Stef! We’re sure it’s the first of many!