MECHANIC Sam Mitchell is hoping to get more racing drivers following in his tyre tracks to help charity.

Mr Mitchell, owner of SJM Motor Repairs, in Headington, Oxford, has been named Driver of the Year in his first season racing his 1972 Mark One Ford Escort.

He bought the vehicle on eBay for £2,000 two years ago and after a year of work, and a further £7,000, he took to the track last year.

Now Mr Mitchell, who races his green and yellow car about 20 times a year for charity, is on a mission to get more Oxfordshire drivers behind the wheel in the Classic Hot Rod class competition, run by Incarrace.

Mr Mitchell was among about 40 drivers who raised almost £4,000 for the Leicestershire Air Ambulance last year.

Each year, the drivers choose a different charity to support.

He said: “We need more drivers to represent Oxfordshire. I’m the only one.

“We do race for charity so the more people who get involved the better.

“It’s a massive adrenalin rush, fantastic, I could go on about it all day.

“Someone who enjoys racing would really enjoy it, if it’s your era, 60s and 70s cars, then it’s the right sport for you.”

He added: “I’m surprised how well I’ve done in the first year. In the first five races of the season I blew up five engines, but I kept coming back, even if I had to spend two days fixing it.”

Mr Mitchell, from Blackbird Leys, has had a lifelong love of cars.

He said: “When I was at school, all I was interested in was mechanics.

“I was always fixing people’s cars, so driving is part of my love of cars.”

The 46-year-old, who has a son Lee, 13, and wife Sharon, 40, said: “It does take up a lot of my spare time with running the Rover Cowley football team and running my own business.

“My wife is all right with it, she comes and supports me when she can.”

This year’s season begins on March 20 with the first race at Birmingham Wheels Raceway.

To find out more about classic hot rod racing, go to chr.racingdrivers.co.uk/cars