Shandon rally star Fraser Anderson says he’s pleased with the progress he’s making every time he steps into the car after another eye-catching showing at his second event of the year.

The 19-year-old is keen to get as much time behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta Rally 4 as possible before embarking on his first season in the Junior British Rally Championship – and lifting the ‘Star of the Future’ award at the North West Stages despite what he believed to be an artificially low seeding – 120th in a field of around 123 cars.

Despite an unsuccessful plea to the clerk of the course that the youngster would catch up with the cars in front, Anderson finished 28th overall, and fourth in class, with two stage wins, three second places and two thirds over the 14 stages and 60 miles of the event near Preston.

“Being seeded so low down meant we had to contest with catching and then trying to overtake multiple cars in the stages, which made showing our pace quite tricky,” he said.

“Despite this we pressed on and made another good step in getting both myself and the car working well on the sticky stuff – being at the front of the two-wheel-drive battle on numerous stages when we weren’t held up too badly!

“There’s still more potential to unlock but I’m satisfied with the progress we’re making each and every time we step into the car.”

Next up is the start of the Junior BRC series in Clacton, Essex on April 22 and 23.

With the JBRC now less than a month away, the need for sponsors to help him through the seven-round series is only getting greater – anyone who would like to, and is able to, give their backing to Fraser’s efforts can find out more information by contacting George Anderson on surveying@baxterandgillespie.co.uk or 07891 813062.