FARNHAM’S Jessica Hawkins has completed an outstanding season in the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro Class.

Driving for Excelr8 Motorsport, the 21-year-old won six races and was on the podium no less than 13 times.

Hawkins has impressive karting credentials, but limited experience in saloons and single-seaters, and this was her first opportunity to mount a full car championship campaign.

With a three-year racing plan to compete in the BTCC, she wanted to use this year to demonstrate her true potential.

She got off to a flyer, with three poles and five race wins. She could never maintain that startling run of success, but now the others had to do the chasing.

And they did that, with the Mini Challenge title decider and the Sunoco 240 Challenge winner going to the wire at the final meeting and the very last race.

It was team-mate Matt Hammond who pipped Hawkins for the title and he wins a test drive in a BTCC Championship car.

“I miss out on that experience this time around, but I’ve shown what I can do and one day it will be me,” declared Jessica.

“Excelr8 and my brilliant number 1 mechanic, Toya Rule, did an amazing job all season, keeping me competitive and running at or near the front in every race. Although I couldn’t quite do enough to clinch either championship, I have a lot to celebrate after my maiden season in car racing.”