A local racing driver is on the lookout for sponsorship to help him compete in a very high profile motorsport championship this year.

Tom Smith from Tenby hopes to take part in the BMW Mini Challenge 2012, competing with the new BMW Mini Cooper S Works.

"I had very little track time in 2011 due to lack of funds, so I spent the majority of the year training with pro karts and on pro simulators," he explained.

At the Santander British Grand Prix (Formula 1) in a competition held on a Ferrari racing simulator where thousands entered along with some of the world's most famous and talented racing drivers, Tom managed to land himself in fifth position with a lap time just four-tenths of a second behind F1 superstar Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing).

This impressed the Ferrari racing team to the extent that they featured Tom on their website.

Later on in the year, he attended the World Series by Renault in support of a friend who was competing and was entered into a competition exclusively held for racing drivers on a professionally set-up Formula 1 simulator designed by F1 team Force India for training and development of the car.

Out of a total of 40 racing drivers, ranging from Formula Renault to British Touring car drivers, Tom impressively finished in the middle of the board with a lap time in between a Renault Clio Cup Champion and a British Touring Car driver and was considerably faster than one Formula Renault driver who was in fact the son of 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill.

"The Mini Challenge UK is a great championship and would be a fantastic move in my career as I strive to progress in motorsport to eventually compete in the international Le Mans Series," said Tom.

"I am looking for local sponsorship to join me in my very exciting career. I have many sales generating ideas included in my sponsorship packages and a long list of fantastic benefits which involve VIP hospitality at each of my race events, track days available for sponsors and guests to experience the thrill of motorsport behind the wheel and a number of events held throughout the year with use of a professional Formula One simulator and F1 show cars advertising your company," he continued.

As a sponsor, your company name/logo will also be advertised on Tom's racing car, race suit and all transport vehicles, with all of his races set to be featured on two TV programmes broadcast by Sky Sports and Mini TV.

"My team and I understand the reality of the current financial climate and therefore all sponsorship packages are under £1,000, which is fantastic value for money that offers brand awareness, promotions, advertising, corporate entertainment and business to business opportunities.

"I want to try and bring as much business into the Tenby area and strongly believe I can do so by offering local businesses this unique opportunity," he added.

Anyone interested can contact Tom via email [email protected]">[email protected] for further information.