Ipswich's Carl Boardley who made third in this year's National Hot Rods World Championship at the Ipswich Speed Weekend can feel justifiably proud of the progress he has made since coming into this prestigious formula just over three years ago.

Ipswich's Carl Boardley who made third in this year's National Hot Rods World Championship at the Ipswich Speed Weekend can feel justifiably proud of the progress he has made since coming into this prestigious formula just over three years ago.

He competed with only moderate success in the smaller Stock Rods class for a number of years before taking the plunge into Europe's Top Short Circuit Saloon car formula and fourth place in his first year of racing in the World Championship was an outstanding effort.

Fifth last year, good by any standards was still slightly disappointing to Carl and the team but third place this year is evidence that he is very much a force to be reckoned with. There was a skirmish between the drivers battling for third place over the closing laps and Carl was originally awarded fourth despite crossing the line third but the recipient of third place Mark Willis sportingly offered to swap placed and Trophies as he felt that Carl had been rather harshly done by in the decisions made by the stewards of the meeting.

As for the race itself Carl said that he was disappointed to have only qualified in grid six but still felt that he had a chance. However, he feels that he was nudged out of a good start by Northern Ireland Garry Woolsey and knew that from this moment on there was little chance of catching the front runners. However, he soldiered on got back past Woolsey and made excellent progress to be handily placed in the group chasing the two leaders. In the end although he admits that he would never have caught them he is happy enough with third his final comment being: "After fifth fourth and third I think we'll skip second next year and go straight for the win."