Carlisle-based Custom Fleet has won the seventh and final regional heat of the Kwik-Fit 2002 National Karting Challenge held in association with Fleet News, completing the line-up for the grand final on June 9.

The final will be held at Milton Keynes' Daytona raceway, where Custom Fleet will face opposition from fellow finalists Venson Public Sector, Alphabet, ARVAL PHH, Carillion Fleet Management, Lloyds TSB autolease, DaimlerChrysler Fleet Management Services, Shell Auto Finance and Vardy Contract Motoring.

In the Scottish qualifying round competitors from the five competing teams - Arnold Clark Finance, Bank of Scotland, Custom Fleet, Scottish Equitable and Ogilvies - had to battle grid-locked Glasgow to combat football fans on the way to the Champions League Final at Hampden Park, before they could start racing.

Sporting attention was divided between Hampden Park and, Glasgow's purpose-designed indoor karting circuit where a variety of corners, curves and chicanes tested the nerve and skills of all drivers from first-timers to the most experienced.

During the first hour at Scotkart, no clear favourite emerged, but in the second half Custom Fleet took the lead, followed by the Bank of Scotland and Scottish Equitable jockeying for second and third spots.

With 10 minutes remaining the Bank of Scotland team made a last ditch effort and succeeded in reducing the gap to less than a lap behind Custom Fleet.

With two minutes remaining a driver change by Custom Fleet saw their time advantage reduce to just 10 seconds. But it was enough to narrowly beat Bank of Scotland to the finish line.