Local lad leads debut series

The 15 year-old has just this year taken up car-racing and, after only four races, is already leading the Ginetta Junior Ireland series.

He’s even picked up his first race win, coming out victorious in the second race at Kirkistown on Saturday, having been pipped to the first by just 0.0001 seconds.

Proud father Robert reckons such a bright beginning could be the start of an impressive motoring career.

“Starting off so well is a bit of a one off. It’s never been done before,” he told the ‘STAR.’

“Coming out of the first meeting at Mondello Park leading the Championship, people could have said it was luck but Wilson backed it up with a win in the second meeting.

“He’s so cool about it. He doesn’t let it fluster him at all. He stays calm and treats it all like business. Once he gets in the car, he gets his business head on.

“I know that he has a God-given talent that he should take advantage of.”

The RBAI student is racing for ABR Sports, based in Naas and drives a Ginetta G20 car.

Wilson’s dad Robert is a racing enthusiast. Having had to retire from his own motoring career with injury, now it’s a roller-coaster of emotions for him when he’s back at the side of the track watching his son begin his own career.

“Watching Wilson is fantastic,” he said. “It’s a nervous time as well but it’s exciting.

“I’m really passionate about motorsport. I raced myself until I was injured in Phoenix Park in Dublin.

“The cars are very safe but they are reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. We saw his in-car camera of the last race and the cars are very close together but we just trust them to race safely and not be silly.

“It’s tense and we’re always happy to see the chequered flag being waved.”

Robert also reckons his young son has the right mind-set to continue to go from strength to strength as his feldgling career gets underway.

“I talk to Wilson and give him advice before the races and then to see him taking it on board and doing what he’s told during the races is great,” he said.

“It shows a real level of maturity which our team have said they haven’t seen before in someone so young.”

Wilson has eight races remaining in his debut Championship.

He’ll be hoping he can maintain his early-season form in the next double-header at Kirkistown on Saturday 21 June.

After that, he’s going to turn his mind to bigger things.

“Wilson’s going to learn his craft here and then he hopes to get some testing done in England before the end of the season,” said Robert. “Then he wants to compete in and win a national championship, possibly in the Ginetta G40 Junior Series or similar.

“British Touring cars or a GT series would be his ultimate goal and with the right backing, he has the speed, determination and is level-headed enough to achieve it.”