BRIGHAM teenager Sam Kirkpatrick is making a name for himself in the world of motorsport.

The Keswick School pupil, who only turned 18 last week, is a member of Wigton Motor Club, which has over 700 members.

And Sam has just completed a very successful first year in senior motorsport. He graduated after five years in karting and raced in the ultra-competitive Millers Oils MG Trophy, one of the best supported saloon car series in the UK.

Sam drives an MG ZR in the class B 170 bhp class.

Racing runs in the family with dad Bill - who owns the Wheatsheaf Garage in Brigham - a long-time racing driver.

Bill said: “Sam started karting when he was eight. I have done quite a lot of racing in my time, so Sam was at places like Silverstone in his pram! We do it as a family.”

The season started badly for Sam at Silverstone national circuit where he was victim of a first corner incident, resulting in his car being written off.

After unfortunately missing the Brands Hatch round, the car was re-shelled, and Sam was finally ready to resume. There were four double header rounds left in the series: Silverstone GP, Donington, Oulton Park and Snetterton. Sam immediately challenged the regular front runners and ended the season with two wins and three second places. He was consistently on the front row in qualifying, including four pole positions.

Sam is currently studying for A Levels in business, psychology and history at Keswick, and hopes to attend Leeds University.

He will continue in the MG Trophy next season with the aim of winning the championship, despite it being his final A-level year. He also aims to race his dad’s historic MGB later in the season in the ultra competitive Equipe GTS series.

Sam has been awarded the Wigton Motor Club External Championship Award for 2018.