Robert Butler had a tough start to his 2006 British Championship campaign after finishing 13th and 15th at the opening round at Three Sisters near Wigan on Sunday.

Rob qualified 10th in timed practice, following that with a 6th and 5th in his two heats. In his first final of the double-header, he was running 7th but was taken out, and his bad luck continued in the second final when he was running in 8th and went for a gap that wasn’t there, dropping him back down to 15th.

“I’m not happy at all, said the Co. Meath driver, “Until the second final I wasn’t on the pace, and then I made that move that wasn’t fully on.”

Rob is, however, lying 13th in the championship, already two places up on his 15th place in 2005. The event was won by Yorkshire driver Oliver Rowland, who leads the championship after victories in both races.

14-year-old Rob will go back to Dunshaughlin Community College this week, then his next race will be next weekend, at the Italian Open Championships at La Conca, Italy.