Michael's joy at place in race final
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By Fiona Cooper
Motoring enthusiast Michael Humphreys produced a giant-killing
performance in his 15-year-old car to reach the final of a major
racing driver talent competition.
Michael, from Sittingbourne, turned up for a track day at the
Bedford Autodrome in his £2,000 Peugeot 106 Rallye to find he would
be up against drivers in far superior vehicles.
The day was run by tyre manufacturer Dunlop and performance car
magazine evo.
Michael said: "I was mildly confident, but when I turned up in
my little Peugeot and saw the other cars I thought maybe I was
being a bit optimistic!
"Even with what I've spent on it since I bought it seven years
ago, it shouldn't be any match for some of the cars that were out
there."
But despite the competition, the 26-year-old recruitment
consultant's driving so impressed one of the judges - British
Touring Car driver Steven Kane - that he was voted through to the
final of Dunlop's Race Academy competition at Silverstone next
Wednesday.
If he wins, Michael will be given his racing chance with a
paid-for drive in Dunlop's Sport Maxx Cup race series at the wheel
of a race-tuned Nissan 370Z sportscar.
"I just hope I can do a decent job in the final - that first
prize is amazing," he said.
Mr Kane said the final for Michael will be a bit like taking
part in Britain's biggest singing contest.
"It's going to be like the final of X Factor with the BTCC
drivers versus the evo staff as judges and all fighting our own
chosen driver's corner," he said.
"So I'm going to be like a Cheryl Cole for Michael! He's a real
find. He displayed a very smooth approach and great consistency
with his lines and throttle and brake control.
"He's definitely got what it takes to go all the way in the
final."
Monday, September 06 2010
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