Months of hard work paid off last weekend when the return of national kart racing to Buckmore Park was hailed a success.

Bosses at the Chatham track invested £150,000 in improvements over the winter and the prestigious Super One event attracted over 140 karters.

Over a packed two-day meeting, four different championships took to the undulating track and enjoyed a new pit lane, all-new grandstand, partly resurfaced circuit and bigger paddock.

Workers at the track had only just finished the improvements in the days before the meeting but racers and teams, who had come from across Britain and Europe to compete, went away impressed.

Buckmore was one of six from 53 circuits to be chosen to stage a round, the first time since 2011.

“We ran the British championships here for many years but obviously things in karting have moved forward,” a proud managing director Bill Sisley said.

“And basically the paddock area here wasn’t big enough and the promoter wasn’t prepared to come to Buckmore unless we did various updates, which was a considerable investment to the circuit.

“We agreed to do that over the last winter, which we’ve done, a total investment of £150,000 - we’ve made those improvements purely for this one meeting.”

The wet winter didn’t help Buckmore’s task but everything looked in tip-top condition last weekend.

“We’ve been working day and night for two months, literally, to get it up to date and we finished it last week,” Sisley added.

“It’s been very, very close but it’s worthwhile because everyone who comes here can see the improvements.”

On track, Dartford’s Myles Apps took the spoils in a close Honda Cadet final, with Harry Thompson winning the other.

Sandy Mitchell gained top-spot in the Junior Max final, as Alex Quinn took the Mini Max spoils.

Elsewhere, John Stewart won the first Senior Max final, whilst Kyle Fowlie grabbed the second final win.