Young gun Rikki Taylor has his sights set firmly on getting a drive in the British Touring Car Championship.

And he is hoping that contesting Eurorods this season will be a step in the right direction.

The 15-year-old Stanford-le-Hope schoolboy has already cut his teeth in karts and Ministox and dad Stuart reckons his son has the potential to realise his ambition.

Heading for the top : Rikki Taylor (left) and team partner Derek Means Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

"DNVS Racing have taken him on and he will now be racing Eurorod, which is a full race specification Mini," Staurt said.

"He should not really do it until he is 16 but because of his successes they have allowed him to come in.

"I do not think there's a 15-year-old in the country in a senior race team who is their number one driver. They obviously see some potential in him.

"Realistically he would like to get into touring cars and DNVS appear to think they are within his reach."

DNVS - based in Victoria Road, Stanford - will be launching their season at a car show at the Brentwood Centre soon before planning to do some testing at Brands Hatch.

The Eurorod season gets underway in March and takes in circuits such as Silverstone and Castle Coombe, plus oval circuits like Arena Essex.

Rikki, of Hope Avenue, is no stranger to the Purfleet venue, having raced there during a Ministox career that has seen him win plenty of trophies.

He graduated to racing the 1000cc Minis when he was 11, after three years spent as a cadet in karts.

Published Thursday, January 16, 2003

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