Defending champion William Sparrow won the second round of the new Total Karting Zero season at Lydd.

Sparrow, 14, from Marden, had a couple of spins during the warm-up before qualifying second on the grid.

He made a good start to the pre-final and by lap five had overtaken rival Joao Gabriel Castro en route to victory.

Sitting on pole for the final, the Maidstone Grammar School pupil briefly lost the lead to Castro on lap seven.

He soon regained first place and kept Castro at bay in a tight finish.

“He made a good attempt on the last lap to take the lead again,” said Sparrow, who is defending southern and national titles.

“Although it was close over the line, the win was mine.”

Sparrow sits second in the southern standings, just four points behind Castro, with Finley Dunleavy 12 points back in third.

Round three takes place at Shenington in Oxfordshire on June 10-11.

Meanwhile, Sparrow has secured sponsorship from Scarab Sweepers.

He said: “Without their generous support, my title defence would not be possible and I am enormously grateful.”

The Marden-based company said they were delighted to support Sparrow, describing him as “incredibly talented”.