But the fire, midway through Saturday’s practice session left the car totally unrepairable for Sunday’s races. Thankfully, the Sackville School pupil was able to make a hasty retreat without injury.

“It was quite scary, I have to say,” said a lucky Adrian. “Mid-way through the session, I was entering a slow corner when I suddenly saw flames coming into the car. Luckily I was able to pull off straight away and get out of the car pretty quick. The car was completely engulfed very quickly and is completely destroyed. It was burning for a good five minutes before two team members ran from the pits with full extinguishers and were able to extinguish the fire. It was like an inferno. Apparently it was the fuel rail that caused it.”

Adrian’s next event will be at the Rockingham Motor Speedway, near Corby on, July 8th / 9th , the venue where the talented teenager clinched last year’s title.