Epping racing driver Lochlan Bearman finished fourth overall in his debut season of the Ford Fiesta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

The 14-year-old went into the final meeting hoping to clinch third place in the championship but car trouble proved to be his main problem.

On Sunday, he finished 13th in race one in his hired car and was not classified in the final race.

The Debden Park High School pupil said: “It’s been a massive disappointment over the last two races.

“We were looking good for third, possibly second, heading into Anglesey and it all seems to have gone wrong from there.

“At the start of the season the objective was top 10, but we realised we are fast enough and so the top five became a target.”

But with this being his first season on the tour circuit, the young racer is aiming to go one further next time around.

“When I look back over the season I’ve been on the podium, I’ve set fastest lap, I held a lap record for one race, and I was leading at Snetterton with seven seconds to go before a power steering pump pipe split.

He said: “I came from the back of the grid to third in the wet at Silverstone and from the back of the grid to fifth at Castle Coombe. We’ve had quite a lot of bad luck and yet have still finished fourth.

“It’s been an incredible experience to race on full circuits, to be in the F1 garages at Silverstone and be part of what has been a really close Championship and I’ve learned so much.

“Now I am looking forward to 2017. I need sponsorship to have a really good go at winning.

“If you want to get involved please contact me at bearman.racing@gmail.com.”

Bearman qualified in 16th after problems with his understeer and it was the first time all season he had not gained a position in the top 10.

During the first race on Sunday, Bearman made an explosive start and completed lap one in ninth.

But on lap 10 car 38, Lewis Kent, drove into the back of him along Druids Hairpin and was therefore excluded from the race.

Bearman was classified 13th, and the car had to be rebuilt for race two but pitted in lap three due to more car issues.

He finished the race to secure points but was not included in the final results.