SWINDON teenager Lucas Romanek is preparing himself for a shot at £20,000 and a season in full-time racing following an excellent year in Formula Ford.

Oldfield Motorsport’s Romanek – plus teammate Brandon McCaughan and Ammonite’s Colin Queen – were the lead drivers in the 2022 Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship.

The 18-year-old showed excellent progression this season with four wins and five further podium finishes in his second season of National Formula Ford, ending his year with a pair of top-five finishes at Donington Park.

Romanek will now head to a three-driver shoot-out at Norfolk circuit, Snetterton on Tuesday, October 18, where he will take on his two rivals in identical GB4 cars in a bid to land the £20,000 prize and a potential opportunity to race at one of the highest levels in British motorsport.

“It’s been a good season for us in Formula Ford. We’ve been consistent, and we’ve been quick,” Romanek said.

“We’ve been pushing for the championship. As for slicks and wings, I did a weekend before in GB4 and I felt I adapted to it really well.

“The Oldfield Motorsport team really helped me out with getting used to it and putting me in a quick car.”

Each driver will race in an identical Tatuus F4-T014 car for the assessment, meaning they will be on a level playing field as they aim to make the step up towards the higher echelons of elite racing.

Another contender to have started his career in karting, mainly across the UK, Romanek is the only driver of the trio to have sampled GB4 already, having raced with Oldfield at Silverstone back in May, where he claimed victory in the final race.

The Swindon talent admitted he is very much looking forward to getting back into a GB4 car at Snetterton as he aims to secure the shoot-out prize.

He said: “I’m massively excited, it’s a great opportunity to get in a GB4 car again and ultimately to try and get into the championship next season and see what doors it opens.

“I’m looking forward to the experience and driving in it, that’s definitely the best part of the day.”

As with all drivers looking to ascend the driver, financial backing is of paramount importance, and Romanek admitted the £20,000 prize would be of huge benefit to him.

He said: “The prize would help massively; it would give me that extra boost as I look to move into GB4 full-time next season.”