Alex on the fast track to success

PEDAL TO THE METAL: Alex Walker finished runner-up in the InterSteps Championship.

ALEX Walker’s progress over the last 12 months has been as rapid as his performances on the racing track.

The 16-year-old, from Shaw, dazzled during his first season in the InterSteps Championship after making the switch from karts to cars.

Fortec Motorsport snapped up Walker after he became the ABKC National KF2 vice-champion.

Far from needing time to settle into his new surroundings, the talented teenager hit the ground running, claiming a host of podium places and outright victories at well-known Snetterton and Rockingham.

He clinched the runners-up berth in the overall table, finishing 30 points behind tam-mate Jake Dennis.

Now Walker is in the race for another gong — he has been nominated for the sports performer category in the Pride in Oldham awards.

Mum Audrey said: “It is wonderful to see Alex nominated for Pride in Oldham, it caps a brilliant year.

“It was impossible to know what to expect from the InterSteps Championship because it has been a brand new experience for him.

“Alex has been competing against lads who are not only older, but have a year or two of car experience, whereas he has only just made the switch from karts.

“He is a keen kick-boxer as well, which helps an awful lot with his fitness levels throughout the racing season.

“Having completed his GCSEs he is now taking a year out to focus entirely on racing and training.”

Looking ahead, Walker hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Fortec racer Lewis Hamilton and another ex-Formula One world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, by establishing himself as a permanent competitor on the Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship scene.

Three races in the Renault Championship this term have yielded sixth, ninth and, in the final race of the season, 10th place finishes — more than satisfactory when you consider the opposition is mostly made up of young men already into their second year in the event.

Walker is awaiting confirmation on the offer of a first full season.

He said: “The level of competition is very high in Formula Renault but I can use what I have learnt in these races to my advantage as we move forward.

“It’s been a steep learning curve but there are plenty of things to be working on over the winter and I’m already hoping to be back for the first race of next season.”