KART racer Calum George showed real potential in his debut outing at Shenington.

The 12-year-old, from Sibford Gower, near Banbury, looked set to win the novice trophy before a flat tyre ended his hopes.

Despite driving a 2004 kart, which was the oldest in the race and using second-hand tyres, George set a decent pace in his heats with a best finish of 20th place overall.

This put him in the middle of the novice group for the grand final, and George worked his way through the field after avoiding an early crash.

By lap two, George was heading the novice drivers, but a rear puncture saw him retire on lap three.

George’s next race meeting will be at Forest Edge, near Andover on September 2.