CHRIS LAW, the flying schoolboy, has made a fantastic start to his debut season in the Elf Renault Clio Cup Championship. On the back of just 15 hours behind the wheel of his new race car, which carried Guernsey flags in his rear side windows, the 16-year-old qualified for the final at Brands Hatch in which he was making good progress until his engine seized and forced him out.

Just to make the final, was a major achievement, said William Law, Chris’s father.

‘For us, he qualified really high. We just wanted to get out there and have a race. We are under no illusions about podium finishes,’ said William.

‘It was really good. Qualifying went really well,’ said Chris.

‘There were a few things I made mistakes on. I’ve got to think a little bit more and listen to my data man.’

Law, who is a student at the College of Further Education and cannot legally drive until his 17th birthday in September, began the weekend vying with 42 other drivers to be among the 32 fastest for the final.

Law comfortably made the cut, finishing 10th in his qualifying race for 20th spot on the grid.

But three laps into the 20-lap final in front of a big crowd at the famous circuit there also to witness the opening round of the 2007 British Touring Car Championship, Law was involved in a bump which was to have dire consequences.

‘I was coming into the second corner at Druids and on the throttle.

‘There was a sort of a queue and I wasn’t ready for it,’ he said, referring to a sudden slowing of those in front.

The result was a loss of coolant in his engine and although he was to pick up a couple more places and be 16th at one point, he gradually lost power before the engine seized altogether.

Speaking yesterday morning before a visit to Thruxton, where qualifying is for the next race on 22 April, Law snr. was counting the cost of the damage.

‘It’s a brand new engine needed. We’ve already got the engine bought and it will be fitted today.’

Dave Corson, captain of the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club karting section, was one of several islanders in the large crowd and was most impressed by the youngster’s performance.

‘It was fantastic. He did really well.’

n LAW had averaged 70.13mph in qualfying over 14 laps and in placing 10th in his group was three places ahead of his Team Pyro teammate Mel Healey.