TEENAGE racer Louis Foster has his sights firmly set on a success on track this season after officially launching his assault on the 2018 Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch, writes MATT SALISBURY.

The 14-year-old from Odiham, Hampshire will embark on his first full season of car racing this year having announced a deal with the front-running Elite Motorsport team back in January.

Foster made his debut in the series with the Norfolk-based outfit last year, competing in the final three meetings of the season and taking three top 10 finishes.

That was followed by an impressive performance in the annual Winter Series, where he secured sixth place in the overall standings and secured the rookie championship title.

Since confirming his place on the grid for 2018, the Lord Wandsworth College student has embarked on a busy testing programme that culminated in the annual season launch event at Brands Hatch earlier this week.

As well as providing Louis with the chance to show off his new-look Ginetta G40 - which features backing from Carwow, Node4 and Wake Nutrition – for the first time, the launch event saw Foster go up against his rivals on track in four timed sessions.

After a damp start to proceedings, conditions improved as the day wore on, with Louis posting his best time of 57.435secs during the third 40 minute long session, three tenths of a second quicker than he had gone during his Winter Series outing at the same circuit back in November.

The Odiham racer will now return to Brands Hatch next month to get his new season underway, with the opening rounds of the year taking place on the weekend of April 7 and 8.

Foster said: “Testing has gone well ahead of the season and I’ve had the chance to run at a number of circuits to improve my knowledge and to gain a better understanding of the car.

“The season launch marked my final test ahead of the opening rounds and I feel it went well. It took a little while to get dialed in to the circuit as I haven’t been to Brands Hatch for a few months, and the conditions were quite tricky in the opening session."

He added: "However, I got quicker as the day went on and was happy with the times I was setting in the final sessions where I was within a few tenths of a second of the quickest times.

“Looking at how close things were on the times, I’m expecting it to be a very competitive season ahead but I feel the experience I gained from the three rounds I did last year, and the Winter Series, will put me in a good position compared to my fellow rookies.

“My focus this season is firmly on challenging for the rookie title and I also want to try and pick up an overall win before the year is over.

“I’d like to thank to the team for their support and also my sponsors Carwow, Node4 and Wake Nutrition for bringing my 2018 programme together. Now I’m just looking forward to going back to Brands Hatch next month to get the season underway.”