FLASHBACK to when you was17-years-old and imagine getting the chance to drive in a 485 brake horsepower (BHP) souped-up machine in a esteemed racing series.

Well, for Guiseley's Lorcan Hanafin this will become a reality this weekend as he finally makes his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championships, the fastest single marque GT racing competition in the UK .

Hanafin, who has raced in karts from the age of five before moving into cars at 13, was suppose to make his bow for last season's winning team JTR earlier in the year, until the pandemic forced the first event to be pushed back to early August.

Nevertheless, the Bradford Grammar a-level student has been keeping busy during lockdown, honing his skills and focussing more on his studies.

He said: "I have been doing online schooling which has taken up a lot of my time. They (the school) have been really supportive throughout all my racing. I am doing Geography, economics and politics.

"I have also been on my simulator a lot, I try do a couple of hours a day.

"It has been pretty good. I got mine from Pure Sims and they managed to get it to me in lockdown.

"It was just a case of learning all the new tracks, especially at the speed that I will be going around them.

"It has been pretty realistic. I would say it is about two or three seconds faster than in real life, but doing things like getting the tyres to temperature has been exactly the same."

The series, where 18 drivers will battle it out up and down the country over 16 rounds for the coveted trophy, kicks off at Leicestershire's Donington Park.

Hanafin only passed his driving test in February meaning he will be one of the least experienced drivers in the tournament. With sponsors and his team to impress, will the pressure be too much for the youngster?

The student doesn't think so, and believes he has what it takes to be more than competitive.

Speaking firstly on his past experiences of the opening track, he said: "I raced there as a junior last year and didn’t do as well as I hoped.

"I think I qualified third, but the race didn't reflect the pace that we had and the results we could have got.

"The last time I tested there was last October and that was in the actual 911 GT3 cup car which was pretty nerve wracking. I was trying as hard as I could to keep it on the black stuff.

"I have been doing a lot on the simulator from there so I think I should be ok."

Hanafin added: "I think I am the second or third youngest in the actual series. I need to prove myself to my sponsors and team that I am here for a reason.

"There is a lot of pressure on me but at the same time I try not to think about it. Even, finishing in the top five or six is still a great result, considering it is my first year in the car.

"I jumped out of a junior car with 100 BHP into this big massive Porsche with slick tyres and 485 BHP, it’s a different driving style.

"For me, it is about being consistent. The points margin is so small, you could have one bad round and it will ruin your championship."