Oxford Brooks student Adam Sharpe is being hunted by one of America's top oval racing set-ups Team Heat, after a stunning performance in a long-distance round of the Kool Seal championship in the USA last week.

Sharpe, 18, who is studying technology management, negotiated the half-mile Hickory speedway in North Carolina was challenging for a top ten place, only for a battery problem to drop him back to 21st after an emergency pit stop.

Sharpe is the first UK driver to race in the USA as part of a new exchange programme trying to uncover racing talent.

Sharpe's coach, Franklin Butler said: "He did everything we asked him to do.

"He has gained enormous respect from the more experienced drivers on track, because he deals with heavy traffic situations cleanly and responsibly. We just want to see this young man back for his first full season next year."