“I still feel like I’m 20 when I’m in the car,” says triumphant Fakenham driver

The adage ‘You are only as young as you feel’ couldn’t be more apt for Fakenham driver Andy Langley, who has landed his maiden racing title at the age of 50.The Norfolk Mini Racing team member won an incredible 14 races out of 15 to triumph in the Cooper Class of the Mini Challenge Clubsport (www.minichallengeclubsport.co.uk).Langley competed over five gruelling rounds at Brands Hatch, Castle Combe, Thruxton, Donington Park and Croft.His only setback during an imperious season on the track came at Donington Park where he struggled with the tyres overheating and paid the price for making a mistake on the last corner.A delighted Langley said: “I feel like I had some very strong drives this year and was honestly shocked at the results.”The championship went onto a tyre which was not my favourite choice and I had to alter my driving style completely to be competitive.”However, the first weekend at Brands the car felt great and I had a very strong weekend with pole, three race wins, three fastest laps and a drive in the pouring rain which I was proud of. “The whole year just followed the same trend and it’s not normally how it goes in racing, I just felt that even when I hadn’t made the right decision on setup, we pulled it out of the bag, it was completely unexpected. “My aim is just to keep racing for as long as I can and I still keep digging deep. I still feel like I’m 20 when I’m in the car.”I would love to move up to a series where you’re pitting yourself against the best talent who are on their way up, but with budget constraints and age not being on my side it’s not realistic.”Besides, I’m really happy where I am, moving up a class in the series I’m in would be great, I’m enjoying my racing and would love to carry on doing that.” Norfolk Cars Mini Specialist supplies and builds the race cars, with company directors Neal Clarke (Cooper Class) and Gary Papworth (Mini Clubman) also competing and, running alongside The Trundley Group, there was a five-car team split over three classes.And it was very much a team effort, which allowed Langley to focus on his efforts behind the wheel. “I think the focus was the easy bit, I had such a good team around me this year and it led to me being very relaxed at the circuit,” he said.”From Gary at Norfolk Mini prepping my car and making adjustments that I’d asked for after every round, Tom Ison and James Newitt looking after the cars at the circuit, Chris Middleton was there for my first Mini race and subsequent win and is still with us, and Ian and Ben Trundley were a welcome addition to the team. “I raced hard against Neal from Norfolk Cars this year and he still managed to put up with me sleeping in the same motorhome, so I guess we all got along well and it makes a big difference.”The series supported the British Truck Racing Championship this year at several rounds, with huge crowds watching the action unfold.It is set to run alongside them for two rounds again in 2025 as well as headlining the Mini Festival at Brands Hatch in August where more than 20,000 spectators are expected over the weekend.Langley said: “We are always looking for partners to come on board, that we can work together with – with the large audiences we’re in front of it’s a great marketing platform.”Several of the races are live streamed too and we get great coverage. Every little helps and we’re looking to move up a class next year which will be a very exciting step.”