A young racing driver is gearing up for a new challenge after racing his Blackpool built TVR car to championship success.

Mickey Holden, the Fylde Coast’s budding Lewis Hamilton, won his class and finished second in the TVR Tuscan Challenge championship this year and is now on the verge of entering the Formula 3 championship.

The 17-year-old former Hodgson High pupil (pictured), who lives in Carleton, sped to glory claiming lap records at the circuits at Cadwell Park, Snetterton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park.

Mickey won all his races apart from three, where he claimed two seconds and a third, and the last race of the season when he pulled over on the green flag lap with electrical problems, costing him the title.

The season included a scary moment when he crashed at the new Anglesey circuit in Wales. The cars data logger said that he left the circuit at over 110mph and hit a tyre wall – but Mickey emerged uninjured.

At the end of the season, his Green Star Racing team was approached by a team from the Edge Club Formula 3 championship who want Mickey to pilot their Dallara F302 race car.

Mickey said: "I'm over the moon with the offer to race in single seat cars, they have been watching me throughout this year and must be impressed with my results. Its a great stepping stone to further my career in this sport.

“Nothing is down in writing as yet and at this level you have to be able to take something to the team and its expensive, so if there are any companies who would like to have their logo on the side of the car next year get in touch with greenstarracing@-yahoo.co.uk.”