YATE teenage racer Dan Healey hopes that his success in the Hereford Raceway Open Grand Prix Championship can act as a springboard to national glory.

The 16-year-old wrapped up the novices' title by four points in his first season since making the step up, having previously won three Junior Kart Championships and an Adult Kart Championships at Castle Combe.

He has now set his sights on winning the Club 100, a national series which he also entered for the first time this year and has been making steady progress in.

"I am really pleased to win the novice championship for the first time because of the tough competition, especially as I had never raced at this circuit before," said Healey, who also finished fifth out of 43 in the overall standings.

"It has also been good to build on my Castle Combe success because I have proved to myself that I am not a one track wonder, which I was afraid I would be after so many years at the same circuit.

"I am looking forward to what the future holds, especially as I am progressing in three different competitions.

"I would very much like to one day win the Club 100, which is ambitious as this is a very tough competition with racers of all ages, young and old, but something to set my sights on and aim for going forwards. Perhaps after this, who knows."

Healey went into the lead in the Novice Championship in the previous round by two points and needed to keep his closest rival James Martin behind him on the track and do nothing silly.

However, he struggled with the kart he was given at random in qualifying and ended up going into the B final, which he needed to win to keep his title hopes alive.

Healey started on pole position and ended up lapping two drivers to win that race and then tag onto the back of the A Final, where he finished fifth out of nine and second in the novice section.

He started third in the second race and was involved in a thrilling three-way battle for the lead.

Healey held his nerve to finish second overall and went across the finish line with both fists in the air, knowing that he had won the novices' crown after finishing ahead of all his rivals.

His mum, Jo Healey, said: "I am very proud of what Dan has achieved this year, especially after going from a local kart circuit to national racing all over the UK.

"I expected this year to be stress-free unlike the previous years but I was wrong.

"At the beginning of the year it was a very steep learning curve for Dan as the racing was very different and tougher than what he was used to, but he has come on leaps and bounds over the past eight months and his confidence is getting stronger all the time.

"I am sure 2015 will be just as exciting, though we may need to move house if he keeps bringing home the trophies!"

Healey also celebrated his best result so far in the Club 100 when he finished fourth at Whilton Mill.

Out of 60 drivers, he qualified fourth and soon took the lead.

He led for most of the race until he made a very small mistake to lose three places.