LOCAL people and businesses have joined forces to help a local teenager on the road to becoming a Formula One driver.

Fraser O'Brien, 16, from Abergavenny, has single-handedly raised the funds to fuel his ambition by developing a campaign called Driving Wales Forward.

Fraser presents local business with the opportunity to sponsor him and in return they can promote themselves to a wider audience.

Motion29, an industrial solutions specialist based in Blackwood was so impressed by Fraser's ambition they agreed to sponsor his race suit.

Motion29 co-director Andrew Wilkinson said, "Fraser approached us with a great presentation that he had obviously taken a lot of time putting together.  He explained how, in order to finance and maintain his car racing, he was giving local businesses the opportunity to back him. 

"It's great to see a young person in the local community who has such a big ambition and is actively pursuing it and we were only too happy to help him achieve his dreams."

Fraser, who has just completed his GCSEs and about to begin A levels in chemistry, maths and physics, discovered his talent and passion for race driving during a trip to his local go-carting track on his 13th birthday. 

He was soon racing competitively and has been Junior Welsh champion in both four and two stroke categories. 

Fraser told the Chronicle, "To race professionally is my ultimate goal.  I am proud to have the support of Welsh companies and people, it allows me to further my career in racing and hopefully one day reach my goal of racing Formula One."

This year Fraser is racing Formula Volkswagen at famous circuits such as Brands Hatch and Silverstone and is the youngest person ever to win a race in the championship.  He is also one of the youngest people ever to pass his racing car licence test which he took on his16th birthday. 

Anyone interested in sponsoring Fraser can email him at [email protected]">[email protected].