Jonathan Potts got more than he bargained for when he won the Formula Ford Single Seater Championship, writes Craig Stoddart.

The 18-year-old, from from Low Pittington, Co. Durham, clinched the five-race winter series after winning three out of the last four races in his Van Diemen RF97 car in his first ever season in motor racing.

His prize was a free test drive in a Sports 2000 race car on the Silverstone race track last week - but after just seven laps in the 165mph car, Jonathan had impressed the car's owners so much they offered him a place in their team for next season.

Proud father, Gary, said: "After Jonathan set off for the first lap, the owner of the car, Bill Nickless, said 'Oh no, what I've I done, putting an 18-year-old in my car'. But when Jonathan came back in at the end of his laps he called him a star."

The Chciron National Supersports 2000 team's regular driver is Chris Buncombe but they intend to introduce a second car next season for Jonathan. Their car is far larger and quicker than Jonathan's Van Diemen but says he required little time to get to grips with it.

He said: "I saw the car standing in the garage and I got a bit of a shock as it looked huge but then Bill showed me round and explained everything.

"I went out for two laps to get a feel of the car and was amazed at the amount of grip. I then went out for a further five laps, taking it easy as I didn't want to put the car into a wall or one of the gravel traps. By the third lap I felt as though I'd always driven the car as I was becoming increasingly confident.

"By the last lap I'd equalled Chris Buncombe's best time and so when I came in everyone was impressed and even strangers approached me saying how well I'd done!"

Gary admits the possibility of taking the big step up from Formula Ford driving to the National Super Sports 2000 series is a surprise.

He said: "It's unbelievable really because he hadn't done any racing until April this year, he never did any karting, he's just gone straight in to it."

A design student at Teesside University, Jonathan needs to find £42,000 to go towards a budget if he is to take up the offer which would see him compete in 14 races around the country and another five abroad.

Gary said: "He's got the capability and the opportunity, now we just need some of these big companies to get their hands in their pockets to help the lad out."

If you would like to assist Jonathan, call 0191 3847933.