AN A-Level student from Guiseley is set to make his debut in a prestigious motorsport tournament this year.

Lorcan Hanafin, 17, will compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championships for JTR once the competition schedule is sorted, after the first four race weekends got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bradford Grammar School student has been racing-mad since he was five years old, when his father bought him his first kart. He has since raced in karting, before moving into cars aged 13.

Hanafin raced in the Junior Clio Cup in 2017, then went into the Ginetta Junior Championship for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

During those two campaigns, he took a couple of victories, including a win at Brands Hatch in the last race of the 2019 season, which led him to fourth place in last year's championships.

The first half of the eight race weekend calendar for the Carrera Cup, which 26 drivers have entered, making it one of the most competitive seasons so far, has been postponed, meaning Hanafin will have to wait until late July at the earliest to begin his new driving adventure.

Nevertheless, he can't wait to get going and has set his aims high for what he can achieve in his career.

Speaking firstly on how the deal to join JTR came about, Hanafin told Lloyd Bell Productions: "We had discussions leading up to the awards dinner, then we sat down with Nick Tandy (team owner) and sorted out a deal for this year.

"I am really glad that I am with this team. Dan (Harper) won it for them last year so I am really looking forward to get into the swing of things when the season starts.

"I see it (Porsche Carrera Cup) as the natural progression to where I want be and that’s winning Le Mans.

"If I can do well this season then I can really push myself forward and hopefully attract factory drivers and teams.

"Half the field are pros so I am really looking forward to sticking my nose in and racing against them. I have a lot to work on to catch those boys at the top but I think I can get a grip of it.

"I only passed my driving test a couple of weeks ago, so to be able to drive down in my Polo and then jump in a 485 brake horsepower car, it is pretty special."

Hanafin says it is difficult balancing his studies with his racing but thanks his school for their support.

He said: "It has been a pretty busy off-season. I have been doing lots of testing, making the most of half term, getting three or four days in there.

"School is on the side at the minute, racing is my full priority this season so I am looking forward to it.

"The school are really good. They are really lenient with me taking the days off, so I am thankful to them for that.

"There are a lot of late nights catching up on work the day after. It is a struggle but I am getting there.

"My A-Levels are next year so I have got a bit of time now to really focus on my studies and on my racing. I am not looking forward to them (the exams) as much as I am to getting the season underway."

Be sure to keep an eye out for this young driver and his exploits in the Porsche Carrera Cup when it is safe enough for racing to recommence.