Fannin won races at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park in the Ginetta Juniors Championship this year

South Godstone driver Jody Fannin says he is aiming to drive in the Ginetta G50 series next year.

The 17-year-old tested a G50 car last month after finishing fourth in his rookie season in the Ginetta Juniors Championship this year.

He told BBC Surrey: "The plan is to do the Ginetta G50s if we can find the right budget.

"That's the plan over the winter and what we've got our eyes set on. We want to stay in the Ginetta family ideally."

The Surrey driver is also looking to benefit from a scheme that has helped double Olympic gold winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington to fulfil her potential.

Fannin tested a Ginetta G50 at Donington last month

Fannin has been selected for the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence after being identified by the Motor Sports Association, the UK governing body of motor sport, as having the potential to become an elite competitor.

The scheme, which runs across a range of sports, aims to develop a mix of transferable skills and qualifications that will aid the development of young sports people as competitors and allow them to progress to further.

Rebecca Adlington was an AASE student when she won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing

Olympics.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and an honour to be involved. I'm honoured to be on it," Fannin said.

"There are a select few and I'm amazed to be chosen, it being my first year in cars. I'm going to grab the opportunity with both hands."

Since starting the scheme he has been to Loughborough University on an MSA Elite Athlete course. Amongst general seminars, he had meetings with a dietician, a race coach and a sports psychologist.

He has also attended the Porsche Human Performance Centre and the Porsche Fitness Centre at Silverstone.

The plan is to do the Ginetta G50s if we can find the right budget. That's what we've got our eyes set on Jody Fannin

Fannin will be too old for the Ginetta Juniors Championship next year but he does not want to switch to single-seater racing.

"The whole Ginetta ethos is you can go from 14 years of age to their Le Mans 24 hour car," he said.

"The amount of people going for an Formula One seat is huge while there is a wider range of opportunities in sports cars."

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