Sussex has two new world champions to shout about.

David Marsh, from Hove, retained his world banger racing crown at Smallfield last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Worthing's Dave Longhurst claimed the world 2-litre hot rod championship for the fourth time the previous evening at Ipswich.

Marsh, 30, qualified for this year's banger final as reigning champion and he did not disappoint in a field of 45 cars.

Driving his 1979 Ford Grenada, named 'Lisa' after his girlfriend, Marsh said: "From the start I was quite confident. I was quite happy with the car and a lot of people had me down as favourite to retain it.

"It was stopped at the halfway stage. On the restart I was in fourth place. With two laps to go I clawed my way up to second on the final lap I got first place.

"It was unbelievable. Last year, winning it was the best moment of my racing career. Two years in a row is dream stuff."

Marsh, has been involved with racing since the age of ten and has been competing in banger racing for seven years.

Longhurst, 42. has plenty of experience in hot rod racing and he beat off 40 other drivers, including representatives from Northern Ireland and South Africa, to lift his world title.

Drawing grid positions for the first 30-lap heat, Longhurst lined up at the rear of the field. Conditions were slippery due to the rain but the Sussex man drove one of the best races of his career, picking off his rivals to claim victory.

The second heat was a reverse grid of the first which saw Longhurst on pole. The conditions were about the same but the Worthing driver led from start to finish, lapping most of the field to secure pole position for the final.

Torrential rain greeted the 30 qualifiers for the 50-lap final. Longhurst led from the start only for the race to be stopped when front row finalist Mark Paffey crashed out. However, it probably would have made no difference as Longhurst was not going to be denied taking another flag to flag win.

Defending champion Lee Pepper, from Fittleworth, spun out of the championships but was first to congratulate Longhurst.