Despite the odds seemingly stacked against him, talented teenage racing driver Teddy Wilson drove to victory in the opening race of the 2019 F4 US Championship.

Incredibly, the 17-year-old from South Luffenham hadn't been in the driving seat of an F4 vehicle since November due to budget limitations and spent just three hours behind the wheel of his vehicle before tackling the race.

Teddy headed to the US last week to launch his challenge for the F4 US Championship title in the first race of the 2019 season at the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta circuit.

He is lead driver for the DC Autosport/Cape Motorsports team as it defends its driver championship, having scored the series title with US driver Dakota Dickerson last year.

Teddy's mum Amanda James told Oakham Nub News: "The last time Teddy sat in a car was at the end of last season.

"While other race competitors were furiously testing their vehicles, Teddy was keeping fit in the gym and using a simulator to practice the Road Atlanta circuit.

"He had his seat-fit in the race track car park the morning before he went out for practice laps.

"And while the car was the same type he made his rookie debut in last season, this year's series tyres are from Hankook, which Teddy had never tested before."

After lightening and heavy rains moved in overnight causing flash floods, qualifying was cancelled so Teddy had only squeezed in three hours' practice before the first race.

"Qualifying grids were based on the best practice times from the previous day and fortunately Teddy's times were good enough for a decent start position.

"To have driven about three hours and then win is incredible. It's no mean feat to achieve what he did," adds Amanda.

Teddy claimed his win on Good Friday (April 19) and the two solid point finishes the following day now places him third in the championship.

Teddy finished seventh in the series last year as a rookie in his first year of car racing, scoring seven top-five finishes, including a pair of runner-up finishes at Virginia International Raceway and New Jersey Motorsports Park.

He is hoping to secure the US$230,000 scholarship for F3 Americas that rewards the winner. The prize fund could make the difference in the continuation of his racing career due to the high costs involved.

Ahead of his move to car racing in 2018, Teddy enjoyed a successful karting career that included the MSA British Cadet Championship and impressive performances at international level with factory teams like CRG and Energy.

He was on the sidelines for all of 2017 due to budget restraints, but a re-focus on American motorsports resulted in immediate success in the World Karting Association, as Teddy won the headline category at the organisation's annual Kartweek event at Daytona International Speedway in December, 2017.

This triumph set the tone for 2018 and Teddy's first year in open wheel formula cars.

Despite it being his rookie season in F4, Teddy was immediately up to speed and scored two poles and two podiums in his debut outing at Virginia International Raceway last April. The remainder of the season featured seven top-five finishes among 11 top-10 results.

Teddy is now fundraising to enable him to compete for the full championship season.

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