Bury St Edmunds racer Charlie Ladell claimed one of the top titles in British motorsport on Saturday, fending off the season-long challenge of a fellow Suffolk-frontrunner, writes Jason Noble.

The 22-year-old gas engineer, who has been competing in his second season of the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, eased to two wins on Saturday at Brands Hatch to claim the title from Ipswich’s Carl Boardley.

The eight-round championship, which is televised on ITV4 and runs as a support slot on the British Touring Car Championship bill, concluded at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend where Ladell was confirmed as victor with a race to spare.

“It’s unbelievable, I cannot put it into words at all,” he said.

“It’s a year of really hard work from me, the team and my family. There’s no better way to win it, it’s the stuff of dreams. To take the championship with two wins and a race to spare is great.”

A dominant race one left him needing just fifth place in Saturday’s second race, and with Boardley suffering a puncture in the second encounter while Ladell stormed away out front, the title was sealed.

It caps a year featuring eight other wins for Ladell prior to the Brands Hatch weekend, while Boardley kept him honest throughout the season with six victories of his own.

“I can’t complain,” Boardley said.

“It’s been a real good year and we have done what we set out to do, which is to trouble the podium at each event.”