Teams of young drivers took part in a go-karting challenge that �40,000 raised cash for charity.

A record number of 19 teams took part in the Valero Community Links Karting Challenge which took place at the Greenwich Raceway.

The teams were made up of staff from Community Links’ corporate supporters, and competed not just for the fastest time but also the most money raised.

Morgan Stanley’s ‘MS-IT’ team won the race, while Thames Waters’ ‘The Rockets’ won the fundraising competition in a nail-biting finish to raise �4,100, just �10 more than second place ‘Team Le Man’ from Man investments. The event was sponsored by longstanding supporter Valero.

The event was organised by Community Links to help raise money so that it can help transform the lives of people in an area where 50 per cent of the children live in poverty.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Our drive is our belief that every child can succeed, but some are denied the opportunity. Poverty, addiction, crime, neglect, abuse - the problems of our most deprived inner cities can seem overwhelming. But with the right support those struggling with such troubling issues can turn their lives around. Community Links helps thousands of people to change their lives.”