Steve Anscombe's path to victory in Monday's stock car meeting at Arlington was a longer one than most.

Two years after being diagnosed with cancer the Eastbourne banger driver was back at the wheel and taking the chequered flag again.

Twelve months ago that prospect seemed impossible as Anscombe, with bigger worries on his mind, had finished with racing and sold all his equipment.

Amazingly, the 27-year-old is not only back but he is preparing to compete in the world cup in Belgium later this month.

Anscombe, from Langney, said: "I didn't think I would be competing in anything this time last year. All I was thinking about was getting back to a normal life.

"It is great to be able to get back into it and be in the world cup as well."

Anscombe, who lives with partner Karen and their 16-month-old son Jack, had been English champion in 1996, had finished second in the world championship a year later and in 1998 he was southern champion and national team champion.

However, two years ago he suffered a broken arm in a crash at Mildenhall and while being treated for that a tumour was found in his arm.

It was a difficult period for him and his family, and racing was pushed to the back of his mind.

Anscombe said: "I had to write it all off. I got rid of the cars and gave my stuff away.

"But it was always in the back of my mind that if the doctors gave me the OK I could think about it again.

"My chemotherapy and radiotherapy had finished and I was just having physiotherapy.

"It is is always a dangerous sport but there is no more damage I could do than to a normal arm."

Anscombe's first meeting back was at Wimbledon at Easter when he was running in second place before being rammed into the fence.

Then came Monday's victory which delighted everyone at the Arlington stadium, which had staged a benefit for him last year.

He has to effectively drive one-handed, using his right arm as purely a support for the wheel, and that will cause him problems for the world cup.

With cars being altered for the European circuit, it will give Anscombe difficulties with changing gear. But he has surmounted bigger problems over the last two years.

Anscombe, who plans now to do a tour of the country to thank racing folk who have helped him over the last two years, said: "A lot of horrible stuff went on over the last two years and the thing that got me through it was looking ahead to the good times.

"Racing is not the be all and end all after what has happened, but it is great to be back."