AN ASPIRING racing driver from Somerset has finished third in a national karting championship. 

Harry Cottrell, 11, displayed his skill and daring in the shortened, six-round Super One Championship to achieve a fantastic result - despite a high-speed crash. 

His dad, Chris Cottrell, said: "Harry has overcome many challenges in this championship with some amazing driving and overtaking, as well as being resilient and getting back in the kart after a crash at 70mph into the tyre wall at Shenington, Coventry. 

"This is a national championship, racing against other racing drivers from across the country, but once again Covid returned and shortened the Super One Championship to only six rounds, two of which were tracks that we had never been to before, but with coaching Harry has achieved third." 

Harry entered the Super One Championship after successfully applying to the Freddie Pring Memorial Fund at the start of 2020.

The money was used to pay for Harry's driver development and coaching from Connor Mills at Passion Motorsport in Essex.

"With the help from the fund this enabled us to become more competitive and gave us the confidence to enter the Super One Championship," said Chris. 

Somerset County Gazette:

Harry races locally at Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorchester and Mansell Raceway in Dunkeswell, but the sport takes him all over the UK competing at national level.

He drives at professional racing circuits with up to 32 other competitive racing drivers.

Harry started go-karting at the age of five at Westonzoyland Airfield, using cones to make small circuits to drive around. 

In 2019, he completed his first Independent Kart Racing (IKR) event at Clay Pigeon. 

That made him realise that he loved karting and wanted to compete in more races. 

However, the coronavirus pandemic put the brakes on the karting season for five months last year. 

He was able to return to the track in May 2020.

When he turned 11, he moved up a class and started driving a two-stroke Rotax kart which reaches speeds of up to 70mph - but this meant he had to learn a new driving style and technique. 

The racer has also completed the Association of Racing Kart Schools (ARKS) test for amateur racing drivers, allowing him to compete at Motorsport UK (MSUK) level.

Chris and Harry are currently looking for sponsorship for the 2022 championship year. 

For more information or to support Harry's racing, visit his Facebook page or website, www.hcracing.co.uk.