Royal Navy go-kart racers left the airmen standing at the RAF’s own championships – despite being hugely outnumbered by their hosts.

The Navy drivers were the top military team out of 32 civilian and Service racers hurtling around the track at Llandow in Wales for the RAF Endurance Championships.

Their achievement is all the more impressive because of the size and experience of the RN team – it’s been some years since the Senior Service entered an event organised by the RAF.

The sailors raced three karts – a Rotax Max from HMS Collingwood in the two-stroke events and Team Worx provided two Pro-karts for the four-stroke endurance event.

The Collingwood kart was beset with clutch problems which meant it finished seventh out of eight in its category.

RN1, raced by Lt Richard Scott of the Type 45 project team and HMS York’s LOM Stu Williams came third in the endurance race, despite some technical difficulties.

RN2, driven by less-experienced karters from HMS Sultan, finished in a creditable 19th place.

“It only became apparent at the prizegiving how well RN1 had done,” said Lt Scott, kart team captain.

“The first and second-placed teams were both made up of civilian racers, many of whom had raced for the Wales team.

“RN1 were the top military team – we’d beaten all the RAF teams there, so we’re looking forward to the next RAF event in July.”

Teams from eight RAF bases entered karts – and despite being beaten, the fliers have generously invited the Navy to their next meeting.