Pals launch racing team

A MOTOR racing team has been launched by two best friends - all in the name of charity.

Motorsport enthusiasts Connor O’Brien, 20, and Josh Young, 19, both from Atherstone, have set out to make an impact on the sport and raise awareness of the Children’s Air Ambulance, based in Coventry.

Connor, who went to Queen Elizabeth School in Atherstone and now works in transport management at Ball Trucking, has never raced before.

He said: “It’s my first year racing but I love cars and I’m really looking forward to it. We have such a great opportunity here with Agouti Motorsport and the Children’s Air Ambulance charity. It really is very exciting.”

The partnership between the ambitious pair’s team Agouti Motorsport, and the deserving cause officially began on January 14 at the Autosport Internation show at the NEC near Birmingham.

The duo are thinking big and want to make a real impact on the high-octane world of motor racing – but they want to spread the word about the Children’s Air Ambulance at the same time.

They will be taking part in the Super Mighty Minis championship for the first time this year. The season starts in March at Silverstone.

The partnership will mean the motor sport team will be raising funds and promoting the charity during races and other events.

Their specially adapted Minis both have Children’s Air Ambulance branding on them. The Children’s Air Ambulance is a national charity which flies seriously ill children between hospitals so they can get the specialist care they need.

Emma Jones, national partnership manager for the Children’s Air Ambulance, said: “This exciting new partnership will raise our profile and enable us to reach a new audience. There’s a definite synergy between us and Agouti in that we’re both about getting to the finish line as safely and as quickly as possible.”

The national Children’s Air Ambulance, which operates from Coventry Airport, transfers critically ill children between hospitals so they can get the specialist treatment they need.

It also relies on speed as travelling by air can be four times as fast as by road.

The service, which receives no government funding, is expanding later this year – doubling the size of its fleet with two new helicopters and two new bases.

For more details visit www. childrensairambulance. org. uk or call 0300 3045999.