A promising up-and-coming Worcester racing driver has been crowned European champion after a nail-biting conclusion to the season.

Haydn Chance, 18, alongside his teammate Theo Micouris, claimed victory in the Ligier European Series Championship in their debut season.

The final races of the season, held at Portimao in Portugal, were fraught with challenges, including safety cars and mechanical issues.

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In the first race, Chance's main rival, Ian Aguilera, took pole position and led the race from the start.

Despite the race being interrupted by two safety car periods, Chance managed to narrow the gap but had to settle for second place, retaining his championship lead.

The final race of the season, just a few hours later, was delayed due to incidents in other races as tension rose.

When the race began, Chance and Micouris took the lead, but their rival managed to overtake by the end of the first lap.

However, Chance and Micouris only needed a sixth-place finish to secure the title.

Chance took over for the final stint during the mandatory pit stop, but mechanical issues began to show.

He drove cautiously, finishing in second place, as his rival spun out and finished fourth, and he and Micouris were crowned champions.

Following the title-winning race, Chance said: "The pressure was higher than usual, especially when it came to the final race.

"My stint started well—I built a solid gap and held the lead.

"However, gearbox issues prevented me from using first gear, and there was a problem with the brake pedal, which slowed my pace.

"As a result, the second- and third-place drivers caught up and overtook me.

"But I wasn’t focused on fighting for podium positions, as all we needed was a P6 finish to secure the title."

He continued: "I drove a sensible stint to avoid any mistakes or crashes and was very happy with second, which ensured we were champions.

"Looking back, the season was filled with top-level racing, and I truly enjoyed my time in the series.

"It was a fantastic experience, and I learned a lot, especially about endurance racing."

Looking ahead, the racer said: "For 2025, I’m aiming to climb further up the ladder, having already tested the LMP3 car a couple of times.

"That would be the ideal next step for me, though we’ll see what opportunities come my way.

"Hopefully, next year will be just as successful.”