MORE than 70 teams from across the fleet industry are vying for the tile of 2006 Fleet Karting Champions as part of the Kwik-Fit Fleet National Karting Challenge.

The first round was held last week in Hampshire, when 15 teams of four drivers competed in a two-hour endurance race.

LeasePlan UK won the South East heat, completing 67 laps, closely followed by a team from Alphabet, which managed 66 laps. Hitachi Capital came third and the final team to qualify for the grand final was Velo.

The second heat was due to be held today in Bristol. Nine nationwide heats are being held with a total of 18 teams set to qualify for the final.

The challenge was first held in 1995 and this is the fifth championship following the last event held in 2004.

Nigel Davies, UK fleet sales director of Kwik-Fit Fleet, said: ‘The challenge causes huge interest and support for it shows how keen the industry is to battle for honours on the karting circuits.’

The challenge will climax in a grand final at the Daytona circuit in Milton Keynes on July 2.