MICA McNEILL is on track to be Britain’s bobsleigh driver at the 2018 Winter Olympics after her first full season as a senior ended with her finishing 14th at the Senior World Championships.

McNeill, who is from Consett, stepped up from the junior ranks in the autumn and piloted the GB1 bobsleigh throughout the World Cup season, with former number one driver Paula Walker taking some time out of the sport in order to have a baby.

The 21-year-old teamed up with brake-woman Aleasha Kiddle to form one of the youngest partnerships on the senior circuit, which encompassed events in North America and Europe.

The pair finished sixth at the Junior World Championships, before tackling their first Senior World Championships, where they finished 14th.

Their performance fell narrowly short of the top-12 target they had been set at the start of the season, but their consistency throughout the campaign underlined McNeill’s huge potential, with drivers not normally achieving their peak until their late 20s.

“We are one of the youngest and lightest teams on the World Cup circuit,” said Kiddle. “But Mica has shown her driving skills are there, and I hope we can work together more and stronger to progress every season.

“The World Championships were definitely the highlight of the season. It was a great experience, and I noticed the step up in all the teams racing.

“Mica and I had some challenges at the World Championships with our timing and our optimum running distance. We gave it our all, but unfortunately didn’t make our top-12 target after four heats.

“It has gives us the drive, not just to compete, but to be up with the best, and challenge the top bobsleigh athletes in the world. We hope to progress every season, and aim to be more competitive for (the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in) 2018.”