The fast controller

CHAMPION . . . Adam Sutherland with his European cup

Radio car whizz Adam is European champ

OLDHAM has its very own European champion after a teenager raced to victory.

Radio-controlled car whizz Adam Sutherland (14) was crowned European Junior champion after triumphing over the continent’s best young racers.

The Chadderton star has been building and racing remote control cars since the age of six. He’s become so proficient he beat 40 teenagers, some two years older, from all over Europe in the recent European Radio Controlled Stock Car Championships held in Coventry.

Adam is a member of Urmston Radio Controlled Car Club where he has competed every Friday and Saturday for the past five years. The Blue Coat school pupil has been such a success it was suggested he compete in the Euro competition.

After getting through a series of qualifiers he faced two full days of 20 races where he amassed enough points to lift the trophy.

His delighted mum Jill Sutherland said: “It was quite hard going and the cars go really fast on an intricate track with lots of twists and turns.

“He is now the European Junior Champion, which at the age of 14 is an absolutely massive achievement.

“He has done really well and we are so proud of him. He was only one lap away from being chosen to compete in the seniors. His school is delighted and think it’s fabulous.”

Adam got involved in the sport with his dad Mark and has cars to race in every class —1/12th scale stockcars, saloon stocks and bangers — and carries out his own repairs after crashes. Other successes include coming fourth in a Genesis Breast Cancer event when he raised £540 for charity.

Last year he won the Urmston Bangers Points Championship and the Drivers Championship and came second in the Saloon Stocks Points Championship.

Mrs Sutherland said: “It was only casual at first but then he got really interested and realised he was quite good. His dad is an engineer and they build cars together from scratch and paint the bodyshell and personalise the car.

“Adam said: “The finals were good but quite hard. There were others who were really good. I was chuffed — thrilled to bits. Everyone was cheering me on.”