JAMIE Stanley's season is over after a dramatic crash at Oulton Park on Saturday.
The Broughton-based driver has withdrawn from the remaining rounds of the North West Formula Ford Championship after being involved in a high-speed collision during the most recent round of the championship.
Amazingly, he escaped with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises.
Stanley qualified on the fourth row of the grid in his Swift SC94 and was having a promising race, battling for his first class win of the season.
He had been having a fierce battle with Ian Gough for fifth position overall during the closing stages of the race.
On the final lap, Stanley overtook his rival but on the run up Deer Leep towards the finish line, Gough clipped the right rear corner of the Chester driver's car, causing it to flip over and then continue upside down for a few hundred yards.
Stanley came to a halt just short of the finish line.
Stanley, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last week, said: 'I am absolutely gutted. I was really looking forward to taking my first class win and it was definitely there for the taking.
'I don't really remember that much about the crash - I just felt an impact and it was all over really quickly.
'I was lucky to walk away unhurt from that one, apart from a few bruises. I was just slightly annoyed it didn't roll all the way over the finish line!'
He added: 'I just want to thank everyone in the paddock, especially John and Elaine Loebell along with all of Medina Sport for their help and kind words of support after the crash.'
Gough was excluded from the meeting for his part in the incident. He was also fined the maximum penalty of £650 and had six points put on his licence. Gough appealed to the race stewards, who upheld the original decision.
* Jamie Stanley is now seeking sponsors to help him launch an assault on the 2007 championship. If you can help, contact Jamie directly on 07815109263 for further information.
