BASINGSTOKE Skip Hire have linked up with young Hampshire driver Jack Rawles and will get the chance to see their racer in action on home soil this weekend at Thruuxton.

The 16-year-old is in action in the Ginetta Junior Championship, which is one of the support races to the British Touring car Championship.

Basingstoke Skip Hire managing director Mick Mercer said: “I wish him all the best for the weekend. I am sure he will do well.”

The link-up came about after Mercer met the driver at the Alton Show last year and Mercer said: “I had raced for 30 years and won over 170 trophies and I felt it was time to return some of my efforts to the sport.

“Jack has a great deal to offer and Ginneta juniors is a very competitive series. I feel that this year will be a proving ground for him and we look forward to helping him move forward.”

Rawles, from Four Marks, started his driving career at the age of 12 in karting and last season finished ninth out of 18 in his rookie year in the championship.

With the help of sponsors like Basingstoke Skip Hire he came fourth in the Winter Championship and is now looking to build on that this summer.

After starting well at Brands Hatch in the season opener, where he finished the day sixth, he slipped back to ninth after the second meeting at Donington.

The teenager is now looking to move back up the table at Thruxton.

Rawles said: “My pace has been very good so far and I am aiming for a top-five finish at the end of the season.

“I am really looking forward to racing at Thruxton as being a Hampshire driver I would like to do well on my home track.”

Rawles has two races on Saturday and his final outing the following day will be shown live on ITV4.