Sidcup motor ace makes successful step up from karting (From News Shopper)

Sidcup motor ace makes successful step up from karting

9:34am Friday 11th May 2012 in Sport

A MOTOR enthusiast from Sidcup has made the step up from karting to racing cars.

Thomas Grainger, 17, raced all over the country last year in the MG Metro Cup, learning the circuits and gaining signatures on his licence so he could lose his novice plates.

Last weekend he was at Brands Hatch circuit racing his MG Metro in the MG Metro Cup.

On Saturday, in qualifying, after five minutes he had an engine failure and with the hard work of his dad and two friends managed to get the car out for the first race.

He started 17th on the grid and after three laps was up to eighth.

In damp conditions and with a lot of determination he eventually finished the race in fifth place overall and first in his class.

So impressed were the commentary team at Brands he was awarded driver of the race and they also decided he was their driver of the day.

On the Sunday the rain came down but this did not deter him. After long delays caused by stoppages in other races, he went out and again started near the back in 18th.

Grainger came through the field quite quickly, with some dubious drifting techniques, and with luck on his side and a couple of spins from other drivers, he finished the race third overall and first in his class.

The final bonus of the weekend was the Sidcup driver set a new lap record in his class for the MG Metros.

This has been the best result so far for Grainger and he hopes to continue his year as he has started.

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