Grapevine: Schumacher Finishes Kart Event Third

Michael Schumacher finished 3rd in the final race of the World Karting Championship event at Kerpen, Germany.

Schumacher spun out of the first race, but was able to make ground in the second and final one, starting from 16th and making up nine places in the initial lap. Thereafter, the Formula One World Champion was promoted up to third, when other drivers ahead of him spun off and retired.

"I had a lot of fun," Schumacher said after the first race today. "To do this all again was a big challenge."

Schumacher, who lost weight to get ready for the race, proved he had not lost any of his kart skills by setting the fastest time in Friday's free practice. But a wet track in Saturday's qualifying meant he had to be content with the 22nd best time, losing any chance of doing well on Sunday.

"I like being at the back because that's where you get all the battles," said the Ferrari driver, who was cheered on by thousands of fans all weekend. Some 5,000 turned up on Sunday.

"It's nice to see him coming back to his roots," said Willi Weber, the manager of the Schumacher brothers. "Watching him here reminded me of how it all started 12 years ago."

Briton Lewis Hamilton, who finished the event 7th, said he was disappointed not to have had a chance to battle with Schumacher. "I never really had a chance to get near Schumacher, which was a shame because I'd have like to have beaten him around a few corners," said Hamilton.

"I could see him in the distance in the second race, but to be fair it didn't really make much of a difference to me. I was just glad to finish the season well for the team."

Maximilan Goetz, the only other German driver in the race, paid tribute to Schumacher's behaviour. "It's unbelievable how normal he was with all of us, like a real mate," he said.

But the happiest of all Schumacher's fans this weekend was probably his own mother. "It was great to have breakfast with him again," she said.