SIDECAR superstar Steve Webster has sealed his place in the hall of sporting fame with an unprecedented achievement.

He was confirmed as the greatest sidecar racer in the history of the sport after clinching a record-breaking eighth world championship at Brands Hatch.

Steve, from Easingwold, North Yorkshire, ended a hard-fought season by taking second place at the racing circuit and securing an eight-point title margin over Austrian rivals Klaus Klaffenbock and Adolf Haenni.

His victory, completed together with passenger Paul Woodhead, pushed Webster ahead of seven-time world champion, Swiss star Rolf Biland, in the all-time rankings. Webster's team went into the day knowing that only a fourth place finish and 13 points were needed to secure the title.

And they stayed out of trouble, despite a major crash which led to the race being restarted, to realise the dream.

The result at Brands Hatch was Webster's 102nd rostrum placing in 122 race finishes - a staggering record which means 82 per cent of his finishes have been in top three places