NORTH Ferriby-based racing driver Neil Winn is hoping a new sponsorship will speed up his climb through the British Formula Ford Championships.
Just a year after starting racing, Winn won the Champion of Oulton, the Northern National A Championship and the coveted Walter Hayes Championship in 2012.
Now racing for Faringdon-based Falcon Motorsport, he started his season over the Easter weekend with a respectable 11th placed finish in the first race of the season.
And with the sponsorship of Melton-based Allam Marine, he is aiming to be crowned Formula Ford 200 champion, in the UK's quickest junior single-seat racing series.
In an expensive sport to compete in, Winn said he was delighted to have the support of Allam Marine owners Assem and Ehab Allam, who have ploughed thousands into local sport, and of course, many millions into Hull City.
"It is having support like this that can be the difference between winning and losing," Winn said.
"Although I get a lot of backing from my family and from Falcon Motorsport, it is an expensive activity so I need as much help as I can get."
Winn says he was surprised when his request for financial help was answered.
"I know the Allam family is very keen on supporting sport in East Yorkshire so I thought I would give it a try," he said.
"I think they were interested because as far as I know they haven't been involved with anything like motorsport before, so it is a bit different to the other sports people they sponsor."
Ehab Allam, operations director at Allam Marine, a passionate motor racing fan himself, said: "Neil has progressed very quickly in the two years he has been racing and we are hoping for great things from him.
"I particularly will be keeping a close eye on his performance as it would be fantastic if East Yorkshire could produce a Formula One star of the future."
Formula Ford can reach 60 mph in less than four seconds and have a top speed of around 160 mph.