Leyland's first ever Karting Championship came to a thrilling conclusion as Paul Cooper beat off competition from 14 other drivers to claim a stunning victory and race away with the title of Leyland Karting champion for 2009!

A sun-drenched Wheels Park in Birmingham played host to the final, which saw the top two finishers from each of the regional heats come together for one last epic contest...and they didn't disappoint!

There was a bumper crowd present, with friends and families from all corners of the UK joining the finalists for their big day, and they were treated to a thrilling qualifying session which perfectly set the tone for what was to follow. Lee Morgan, who had previously triumphed in Chester, was the fastest in the fiercely contested qualifying laps with Paul, James Barnes, Jason Mooney and Dave Stockton completing the top five.

Lee's stranglehold on top spot wasn't to last for long, however, as Paul soon started to show the brilliance which saw him demolish the field at the Hoddesdon heat. He eventually overhauled Lee with a manoeuvre of breathtaking skill, which even the watching professional racing drivers, Rob Collard and Michael Caine from Motorbase Performance had to stand back and applaud. And he showed enough determination to see off the challenge from Lee and James in the final stages to blast over the finishing line and scoop the Championship trophy.

Paul also got his hands on a fantastic array of prizes, which include a full VIP package with the Airwaves BMW team at the final BTCC race of the season at Brands Hatch, as well as £250 spending money.

Paul, who works for WJ Cooper & Son General Builders, said: "The race was the longest half hour of my life. I kept getting shunted around the kart but I was determined to hold onto the lead once I had it in my grasp. The Leyland Karting Championship has been a fantastic experience and I'm delighted to have won!"