Thomas Merritt was crowned vice-champion at the final round of the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch last weekend.

Merritt, 16, who raced as part of the iconic Formula Ford Festival at the Kent circuit, narrowly missed out on the championship following a strong performance all season.

The Kings Hill teenager picked up four wins, four pole positions, 10 podiums and five fastest laps.

Following an extremely close qualifying session, Merritt lined up third for race one on the Indy circuit.

Just before the start of the race, an unexpected shower resulted in a last-minute decision to switch to wet tyres.

Merritt got a great start and battled hard in very tricky conditions to secure third position and his first podium at his home circuit.

The final race of the championship proved to be eventful, resulting in both a safety car and a red flag.

Merritt kept his head down and raced hard to finish sixth, doing everything he needed to do to win the vice-championship.

He said: “I am delighted to have secured the vice-championship at Brands Hatch, a circuit that’s particularly close to my heart, with it being my home track. This is my last year racing in a junior category and I’m over the moon to have achieved this milestone.

“I’d like to say a huge thank-you to Race Car Consultants, especially my mechanic Ollie Pile and driver coaches Ryan Lindsay and Sid Smith, for providing me with a fantastic car and for all their support throughout the season.

“I’d also like to thank everybody including friends, family, and sponsors who came down to Brands Hatch to cheer me on - their support means the world to me.”

Merritt is currently exploring some exciting options for 2026 as he looks to further progress his motorsport career.

Local businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can find out more by visiting thomasmerrittracing.com for further details.