TOP Basingstoke stock car racer Allan Roberts is celebrating after winning the Ford Rods Western Championship at Ringwood recently.

The South View-based driver, who owns the Cabra Motor Co in Goat Lane, won the final - leading the race from start to finish.

Allan, in only his second season, earned himself pole position for the final showdown after picking up the most points in the series of races leading up to the final.

He started on the grid next to number one driver Cliff Yates, with another one of his main rivals, Neil Wollington, just behind him.

Roberts got away at the rolling start but Yates was always on his tail for the whole of the 20 laps on the quarter of a mile oval track.

Roberts said: "I was just ecstatic when I won, it is brilliant to win my first championship."

Roberts will return to Ringwood next month, looking to take second place in the overall championship for the year.

He is currently in third place but only five points behind the second-placed man.

Roberts said: "After this championship win, my aim next season is to win the overall crown."