A TEENAGE racing driver from North Yorkshire has made his mark in his first season in a national junior championship.

Ethan Hammerton was named 'Rookie of the Year' is the Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC) after a series of impressive finishes.

The 16-year-old, stepped up from karting to the JSCC earlier this year and has since competed at the UK’s major racing tracks, including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donnington, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Rockingham and Croft.

Ethan, from Northallerton, surprised older and more experienced drivers on the circuit by finishing the season fourth overall – out of 26 entrants – which made him the JSCC’s highest ranked rookie.

The JSCC bridges the gap between karts and cars, offering young drivers between the ages of 14-17 the opportunity to get behind the wheel and compete at UK national circuits.

A number of previous JSCC competitors have gone on to have successful senior careers in the British Touring Car Championship, the UK Clio Cup and the Ferrari GT Championship.

Ethan, who is studying for ten GCSEs at Northallerton School and Sixth Form, started racing karts in 2014. He achieved 23 podiums in only two years of racing, competing in both the Northern TKM Club Championship and the Rowrah club championship.

In Ethan’s first race in the JSCC, at Oulton Park, he qualified third out of 23 entrants. His success continued throughout the season, qualifying in the top five numerous times.

His first podium finish came in his fourth race of the season when he finished third at the Rockingham circuit.

He qualified strongly at Brands Hatch before a clutch problem dropped him down the field – from fifth to 19th. However, he recovered well and some skilful overtaking enabled him to finish fourth. He was named 'Driver of the Day' for that race.

The season ended on a high with the final race at Silverstone, the home of British motorsport. The heavens opened just as the cars were going to the grid and Ethan had never raced in the wet.

However, he kept his cool and with some impressive handling, Ethan finished second – his highest finish of the season.

In race two he led until on the last lap, but with one corner to go he was forced wide off the track and had to settle with third to round off a very successful season.

Ethan said: “I look forward to battling for the 2017 JSCC title and I am pleased that four of the 2017 races will be televised so people at home can watch the action live.

“The JSCC grids in 2017 should be bigger and better than ever, and I look forward to some very close and competitive racing.”

Ethan, who wants to be a professional Touring Car or British GT race driver, thanked all of his current sponsors for their generous support and would love to hear from any new potential sponsors for 2017.

Contact Ethan on his Facebook racing page – https://www.facebook.com/hammertonracing23/ – for further details.