Sandbach driver Matthew ends his junior career on a high note (From Crewe Guardian)

Sandbach driver Matthew ends his junior career on a high note

2:27pm Thursday 17th November 2011 in More sport

SANDBACH rally driver Matthew Thompson has ended his junior career on a high note.

The 16-year-old will make the step up to senior racing next year on the back of finishing second in the British Junior F1000 Championship.

It marks a season of highlights and progress, with Thompson having finished 10th in his debut 2009 campaign and eighth last year.

Thompson, who achieved his first podium finish in 2010 when a first place eluded him, concluded this year’s Championship action with his third victory of the campaign in the Glyn Memorial Stages at Anglesey.

The event was held over two days and included special stages in the dark on the Saturday night.

With second place in the championship assured, the weekend was all about having fun and going for the win.

Right from the start a close battle emerged at the front, with Thompson holding an overnight lead of just three seconds.

An over-exuberant approach to a hairpin at the start of the first stage on day two saw Thompson drop a handful of seconds.

A close battle with a rival ended due to broken steering, with Thompson so comfortably clear of the chasing pack he was able to ease off over the last few stages.

Thompson is planning to graduate to the BTRDA Rally First Championship in 2012, an opportunity to sample some of the best gravel rallying in the UK.

Before then, he has a trip planned to Germany for the World Motorsport Expo where he is shortlisted for young rally driver of the year.