Henry Howarth, 17, joins MotorSport UK Academy Diploma in Sporting Excellence course at Loughborough College that helped launch career of Formula 1 driver George Russell

Teenager Henry Howarth has landed a place with an academy that helped launch the career of Formula 1 star George Russell.

Howarth, 17, who lives near Bingham, was one of just 20 scholars selected for the MotorSport UK Academy Diploma in Sporting Excellence course at Loughborough College, with previous graduates including Mercedes F1 driver Russell.

He’s three weeks into the two-year course which sees students combine BTEC education with motor racing.

Howarth, whose ambition is to compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race, said: “It’s a big achievement for me and it’s definitely going to help my career, being selected for the academy.

“It aligns perfectly with what I want to do so I’m very pleased to be accepted into it.

“I’ve got into a prestigious academy and I fully intend to do as well as I can and make the most out of it to help further my career.

“I’m one of 20 people chosen, so it’s very selective.

“They’ve had some really big names in the past.

“George Russell did the course, there’s drivers like Luke Browning in Formula 3, a few GT drivers who have gone on to do the Nurburgring 24 hours and Le Mans 24 hours, and Jake Dennis in Formula E.

“So, there’s been some really big names that have got careers from doing this course.

“It’s still overwhelming that I’m doing the same course that Formula 1 drivers, Formula E drivers and all those top-end professional drivers did.

“Doing the course that helped them gives me a lot of confidence in myself to do what I love.

“Le Mans would be the dream. I love endurance racing, I’m really into it. To be able to do something like Le Mans, Daytona and all the big endurance races, that’s something I’d love.”

Howarth was “five or six” when he caught the motor racing bug while out in Australia.

Dad Simon took him karting at Phillip Island and “ever since that day I’ve been really into it”.

He went on to race indoor and outdoor karts en route to securing a spot with JamSport Racing in the Airtech Fiesta ST240 Championship this season.

He’s fighting for the title in his rookie campaign, winning at Thruxton last weekend.

The championship will be decided in the final round at Silverstone next month.

“We’ve got a chance of winning the title,” he said.

“Unfortunately we’ve had some mechanical problems which put me on the back foot but, when we haven’t, I’ve really pushed forward.

“Given the fact it’s my first full season of racing, to be in with a chance of winning the championship is amazing.”

Howarth, who went to Nottingham High School and Toot Hill College before joining the academy, passed his driving test a couple of months ago.

But while he’s a model driver on UK roads, put him on the track and there’s nothing that compares with the thrill of motor racing.

“The most nerve-racking part is waiting to go on the circuit,” he said. “That’s when I feel most nervous.

“When you’re on the circuit it doesn’t feel as stressful as you might think, it’s only when you get out of the car, after the race, that you realise how much adrenaline is in your system.

“You feel fine and then look down at your hands and they’re shaking.

“It’s hard to explain but there’s nothing out there like motorsport.

“You can only find that feeling when you’re behind the wheel at a circuit.”