PETE Founds claimed another title by the narrowest of margins after winning a dramatic Sidecar Championship race at the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man.

The Knutsford-based driver, together with passenger Jevan Walmsley, was side-by-side with closest-rivals John Holden and Lee Cain heading towards the finish-line before taking first place by a tenth of a second.

"It couldn't have ended better," said Founds.

After a heavily-disrupted two days because of on-track incidents, a shortened race saw the Team Founds duo engage in an absorbing fight with Holden and Cain for the lead.

They traded it often too before a decisive move while braking at Iron Gates on the last lap gave the former the initiative for the closing stages.

Meanwhile the opening sidecar race had to be rerun after it was red-flagged following an incident at the approach to the Ballabeg Hairpin in which four competitors were hurt.

And in a precursor of what would happen later, Founds and Walmsley's Rowtec Suzuki held off the challenge of Holden and Cain to finish third after four laps of the Billown Circuit near Castletown

"It was another epic battle between us," said Founds.

Meanwhile Alan Founds, Pete's brother, classified in second place with Jake Lowther behind Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes - the championship winners in 2018.

Attention returns next to a British F2 Sidecar Championship round at Anglesey.

Founds and Walmsley, the defending champions, occupy top spot in the standings after taking maximum points during the International Sidecar Revival meeting at Cadwell Park last month.