Ennerdale driver Jessica Edgar, 14, failed by a few inches in her bid to become the first female winner of Britain’s Kart Grand Prix on Sunday.

At the end of a tense Grand Final that lasted for over 16 minutes, just 100th of a second was all that separated her from Essex youngster Oliver Greenall.

The annual Kart GP has been one of Britain’s most prestigious events since it was first run at Silverstone back in 1978. More recently, this event has taken place at the PF International circuit in Lincolnshire. With over 250 competitors taking part, racing is run over three days from Friday onwards, with Thursday taken up by practice sessions.

Jessica was competing in the X30 Mini category for drivers aged 13 to 16. She emerged from Friday’s timed qualifying session in second and then took sixth in her opening heat. Her next race that afternoon resulted in a second-place finish.

A further timed qualifying session on Saturday saw her classified fifth. In the two heats that day she claimed fourth and eighth. She finished the pre-final in fourth. However, the next race was the only one that mattered.

At quarter distance, Jessica took the lead and held it for 10 laps. Only two laps were left to run when Greenall found a way past. On the last lap, Jessica tried hard to overtake him and came out of the final turn carrying more speed and pulled alongside.

As they crossed the line together, only the sophisticated timing system could tell them apart. Unfortunately, Greenall got the verdict just two or three inches ahead. Jessica’s consolation was being the highest-placed female in the event’s 41-year history.