2003 started off with Barnaby taking over from Ashley Whitcroft as the Project One Team's lead senior TKM driver, with the aim of securing a top ten position in the National Championships in order to set up a tilt for the title in 2004.

Round One was held at the picturesque Rowrah circuit in a disused quarry deep in the Lake District, where the cloud cover is often low enough to enshroud the circuit, whilst the paddock is bathed in glorious sunshine!

Consistent heat finishes provided a grid 3 start, but first bend bunching saw Barnaby spin off and out of contention. However, a full course yellow flag two laps later bunched the whole field up, and, upon the restart Barnaby worked together with Micheal Ryall who also went off on the first corner. The result was a creditable 15th place finish and enough championship points to be in the top ten.

Closer to home at Kimbolton in Cambridge for Round 2 in the blistering heat, conditions that have rarely suited driver or kart, Barnaby upped his game and qualified for the final on pole position after a hefty test day smash left him in the ambulance and the kart destroyed. Early laps saw Barnaby disappear into a healthy lead, but Oliver Roberts popped out of the chasing pack to dispute the lead.

The two drivers then worked together with Ollie leading to leave the rest of the field for dead, preparing for a duel over the last two laps. At one point both drivers took to the grass to avoid a collision and Oliver held on to win by just half a kart's length. Disappointing, but still Barnaby's first Super One podium finish.

If home is where the heart is, then the round 3 venue, Buckmore Park, has fond memories for Barnaby. Former track record holder and Double Club Champion in 2002, Barnaby was looking to improve his current fifth place standing in the championship.

How wrong could it go? A race exclusion for shoving Thomas Barrow wide on the very first corner of the day was compounded by a subsequent breakdown and in the end grid 15 for the B Final was too much to overcome. Project One partner Paul Ringer allowed Barnaby a clear run to try and qualify for the A Final, but the bid failed with 6th place and very few points. All is not lost however, as all drivers are able to nominate their worst round, and drop that score from their championship total.

With the margin for error in the championship rudely removed at Buckmore Park, round 4 at Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset took on extra significance. The week prior, Barnaby had travelled down to Clay for the club meeting and stormed to a huge victory from grid 8 in wet conditions.

Imagine our thoughts when again Barnaby lined up for grid 8 and the storm clouds began to move in. As the rain cascaded from the Dorset sky, the race got underway with Barnaby using all his renowned fast starting and wet weather experience to move up to third place on the first corner. The next driver was duly dispatched a lap later, and all that stood between Barnaby and a maden Super One vicotry was Micky Higham, a local lad from Sutton who started his career the same week as Barnaby at Buckmore Park 8 years earlier.

Barnaby charged into the lead with just a few laps remaining and held a steady lead from Micky to delight the Project One team and also his proud mother who was unable to travel due to illness. Spookily she rang up as he crossed the line to ask what was going on!!!

Realisation dawned prior to round 5 at Lydd that the title was to be decided between Paul Carr's top driver Anton Frost and Barnaby, and all eyes were focused on these two drivers. Once again consistency in the heats were to reward Barnaby with grid 2 whilst Anton, involved in spats with other drivers, started way further back.

The Lydd Final was the race that lost the title for Barnaby as after taking the lead a false start was declared. The pole position driver James Bean, driving for the organisers Talko Race Team, made no mistake the second time and jumped into the lead. Barnaby showed none of the blistering pace he had during the heats as he struggled to restore an ailing carburettor and eventually rolled in a creditable 7th place, but Anton just in front of him.

The last round at Whilton Mill saw Anton the favourite with a 12 point lead, but with wet weather forecasted, the Paul Carr driver was looking nervously over his shoulder at the Project One awning. More consistent heats and grid 5 for the final whilst Anton played bump and grind again with his 'friends' was not enough to ensure the championship went to the last race of the season.

A breif handshake on the grid for the Final as Barnaby conceded the title to Anton was the prelude to an uninspired performance from the Project One star. His sole aim now was to nail up second place in the championship by finishing higher than 15th. After being passed twice on the last lap, Barnaby rolled into the pitlane in 9th place securing 2nd place in the championship, with his engine seizing up on the rolling down lap!

2003 then was mission accomplished with the top ten finish acheived, and also challenging for the title a year early. With Anton moving to Formula A for 2004, Barnaby was to enter the new season as TKM's top seeded driver, 8 years after his first race in Cadet's at Buckmore Park in September 1995.