Middleton wants to be in top gear again
Stu seeks backing to continue to be a driving force
MOTOR racing, like all sports, has been impacted massively by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The devastation caused by coronavirus has not been lost on Ashington race ace Middleton as he considers his own current position.
This year was always going to be an incredibly difficult one for the 20-year-old.
Even before the pandemic took hold, his chances of building on a remarkable few seasons – which delivered title victories and multiple-race wins in the UK and Europe – almost fell to zero due to budget difficulties.
Middleton said: “The situation right now is very difficullt and I send my heartfelt condolences to all of those who have been affected by this awful virus.
“I cannot even begin to imagine what some people have been going through.
“For me, from a racing point of view, it is what it is with the lockdown and we just have to get through it.
“I will be honest, it is not like this lockdown has been the worst thing for us in terms of racing as we were struggling to gather the funds to get on the grid anyway.”
He added: “It is hard keeping motivated and focused but I have been keeping up my fitness training and doing some racing on the simulator to keep sharp.
“I have been doing more running and have been working hard on my cardio fitness.
“You always have to be at your best as you never know when any opportunities will present themselves.
“You just have to keep going, try and stay positive and hope things work out in the end.”
Middleton’s career trajectory has only been one way since he started out in karting with the unstinting support of his parents and the family business North East Caravans.
His graduation to car racing came in 2015 after he impressed to win the Ginetta Junior Scholarship.
Earning him a drive in the full Ginetta Junior Championship, part of the high-profile British Touring Car Championship package, Middleton went on to win that year’s Winter Series and was then vice-champion of the main Ginetta Junior Championship the following year.
Teaming up with Ginetta Junior rival Will Tregurtha in 2017 for the step-up into endurance competition, the duo made an immense impact on the prestigious British GT Championship by winning the GT4 title.
During that season, drivers in British GT and a number of other championships were eligible to score points in the Sunoco Whelen Challenge.
Such was Middleton’s tremendous success during the year he won the grand prize of a fully-funded drive in the globally-renowned 2018 Daytona 24 Hours.
Marking a monumental moment in his career, the Northumberland driver starred on his debut in international endurance racing.
Driving a prototype Cadillac Dpi VR for the first time, he became the youngest podium finisher at the famous American track as teammate to Eric Curran, Toyota factory driver Mike Conway and former Formula One racer Felipe Nasr.
The duo continued their fantastic partnership in 2018 with HHC Motorsport and entered the GT4 European Series.
The pair only just missed out on the coveted crown on count-back when an enforced finalrace retirement cost them the point they needed to become champions.
Last year marked a turning point for Middleton when the chance to move up into blueriband GT3 action arose.
Joining the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe, he partnered Jack Bartholomew to finish an excellent third in the championship with three race victories under his belt.
On talent alone, Middleton should have been afforded the chance to showcase his skills at an even higher level in 2020 as a factory driver with one of the top manufacturers - but that has not happened so far.
He added: “Since last season finished we have had a lot of teams getting in touch with offers – from the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and other championships all over the worlld.
“I still want to stay in GT3 level racing, ideally in endurance, and my long-term goal is to try and move up into LMP prototypes if I can – the Le Mans 24 Hours is a goal.
“As always, it is all about budget in motorsport and with all that is going on that challenge is not going to get any easier for someone like me who relies on sponsorship.
“We don’t have lots of money behind us, my mum and dad have given so much and have sacrificed an unbelievable amount to help me take my racing career forward.”
He went on: “I would like to think enough people in the sport have seen what I have achieved, the championships I have won and the races I have won.
“I have done all I can on track to prove my ability - now it is down to whether or not we can attract the sponsors we need.”