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Gareth Fullerton

Co Antrim schoolboy becoming a rising star in world of drifting

A County Antrim schoolboy is fast becoming a rising star in the world of drifting.

Clarke Hatton is just 13 years of age but is already forging a burgeoning reputation as a young driver to watch.

The Carrickfergus teenager, who attends Ulidia integrated College, is a Pro 2 Drift driver and is one of the youngest ever competitors in the Irish and British Championships.

Read more: Iain Henderson determined to end the hurt at Ulster

But age is no barrier to Clarke as he continues to impress with some stellar performances against more experienced drivers.

He has already featured in the top 10 of the British Championship this summer, and also finished third in the JNR Championship in Cork.

The teenager's growing popularity has earned him some sponsorship from across the world, including a deal from as far away as New Zealand.

"Drifting is the fastest growing motorsport in the world and the most popular downloaded game for Sony and xbox," said Clarke's dad, Andy.

"Clarke had a busy summer and he's starting to climb up the ladder in the British Drift Championship in the UK.

"In Round 2 in Scotland he made it all the way to the top eight out of 52 cars, and in Round 3 in Teesside he qualified third with a score of 89 points out of 100."

Andy's background is in rally cross, and the love for motorsport was passed onto Clarke who soon harnessed a passion for drifting.

"We built a wee drift car when Clarke was 11 years old, and that's where the drifting started," Andy said.

"And we ended up going into the Pro2 series in the IDC, and then he got accepted into the British Championship.

"He is going up against adults. He is the youngest on the grid between the IDC and BDC. He is competing in the Pro2 series at the minute, but the aim is to move into the professional British Championship."

Clarke's next assignment is Round 4 of the British Drift Championship at the 3 Sisters Circuit in Wigan. That takes place from Friday to Sunday.

It is the final points round of the BDC, and the teen is hoping to get the result needed to move up to the next level.

"If he qualifies, he will be a professional drift driver at the age of 14," Andy said.

"He has a decent chance of doing it. Each run is about 40 seconds but the cars are high brake horsepower. Clarke's car's low boost is about 450bhp, and the high boost is around 600.

"Clarke loves it. Even as a kid on his pedal go-kart on the street, the neighbours would knock on the door and say 'have you seen him in his go-kart?'.

"But he loves it, and his school has been really supportive. They have been fantastic."

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