Dunlop Race Academy winner, Andy Walker from Derby, impressed the crowd during his first official race at Brands Hatch over the weekend.

Andy qualified 28th on the grid in the Ginetta G20 sportscar, ahead of two rivals in the Dunlop Drivers Cup Ginetta race, before making a sensational start to force his way into 18th place at the finish.

Andy had another chance to impress in the second race of the weekend. Again, starting 28th (based on his previous qualifying time) he made another impressive start. However, on lap ten he was sent spinning into the crash barrier at the daunting Paddock Hill bend. 

With a broken rollbar and shattered bodywork he was out of the race. However, the lifestyle of the racing driver continues for Andy. This weekend he will experience a celebrity ‘Racing Superstar’ lifestyle including a club class flight to Monaco for a two-night stay in David Coulthard’s Columbus Hotel, helicopter transfers and many more celebrity trappings.

Andy was chosen as the winner of the first Dunlop Race Academy from over 6000 entrants. He had to pass a fitness test, a panel interview featuring representatives from Dunlop, Ginetta and Britain’s top GT driver Calum Lockie, and a driving assessment.

James Bailey of Dunlop stated: “The first Dunlop Race Academy was a tremendous success. The fact that we had over 6000 applications proved that many people want to chase the dream of being a racing driver. Dunlop have a huge presence in both UK and International motorsport, and this was a way that we could put something back into the sport by offering the chance for the public to compete for this unique, racing opportunity.”