Talented Angus karter Sandy Mitchell has secured the biggest prize of his young career after racing to the British Super One Junior Rotax title.
The Letham 14-year-old wrapped up the championship in the weekend’s final round at the PF International circuit near Grantham in Lincolnshire, capping a fantastic rookie campaign in the large and ultra-competitive junior class for racers up to 17 years old.
The Dundee High School youngster’s name will now join a stellar Super One series champions’ roll of honour which features the names of F1 stars such as Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Paul Di Resta, as well as Le Mans legend Allan McNish.
Sandy competed with the RL Racing Department team in six championship rounds at Rowrah in Cumbria, Buckmore, Kent where he scored maximum points Larkhall scoring highest points in class, Glan Y Gors in Wales, Shenington, Oxford and PF International.
He bagged numerous pole positions and fastest laps on his way to the title and rounded off the season with a champion’s performance, which saw him grab a win and second place in Saturday’s heats to go into the final with a 19-point cushion over his closest rival.
Starting on pole for final one, Sandy delivered a terrific drive to third place, requiring him to finish 25th or better to lift the crown.
In the frantic climax to the season as rivals fought for one of the 10 seeded places, the Angus teenager duly delivered a strong 10th place for the third highest points haul of the weekend which also proved enough to take the title by 16 points.
The triumph means Sandy can look forward to a place on the starting grid of the World Rotax Championships, to be held in Valencia in November when he will line up against the best young karters from across the globe.
A member of the Arden Motorsport-backed Young Racing Driver Academy (YRDA), Sandy will now run with the coveted top-seeded number 1 on his kart when competing in the UK, but is also eyeing a step into single-seat racing.
“I am so happy to have won the British Super One Championship, it is a fantastic feeling and I would like to thank RL Racing Department, Cream Racing Engines, YRDA and my sponsors SGM Distribution, Stirfresh, Smartcomm, Tunnocks and everyone who has supported me,” said Sandy.
“My ambition is to firstly enjoy the Rotax World Kart Championship, then I would like to progress to single-seater racing in 2015.”