Instead of celebrating his 18th birthday last week, Rutland Formula 4 driver Teddy Wilson was flying to the USA with his focus on the weekend's F4 US Championship round at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

Last season Teddy, from South Luffenham, made an impressive single-seater debut there with fastest lap awards, pole positions and two podiums against a record-breaking field of 37 on his transition from karts.

At the last US F4 Championship round in Pittsburgh in June, Teddy was plagued with engine problems but still came away with three top 10 points finishes.

Hoping for better luck this time out, it wasn't to be as he finished the weekend with a fifth, a DNF (Did Not Finish) and a DNS (Did Not Start).

"It was a disaster of a weekend," explains Teddy. 

"With high hopes going into this round and championship points to claw back it was going to be crucial to take all my chances and maximize each race. 

"VIR has two long straights and a fast uphill section, so for a quick lap time it is crucial to grab a tow of a car in front.

"This is a fine balancing act as it requires finding a car with similar pace but also not being too close in the corners which negatively affects the aerodynamics. 

"During Qualifying I knew I had pace however, with yellows flags occurring every session, getting in a banker lap was important.

"I had set myself up nicely for my first push lap and came across the line taking a time good enough for sixth.

"The next lap I found myself in a near perfect position to grab a tow off the car in front and, looking back on the data, I had found four 10ths of a second halfway around the lap.

"Unfortunately, a red flag came out on the back straight and I was unable to complete my lap.

"When the session resumed no one went on to improve on their time and I ended the session in a frustrating 6th position.

"Things didn't improve much from there!"

Race one provided limited opportunity to pass as two full course yellows during the race restricted green flag racing time. The race finished under the yellow flag with Teddy in fifth position from 22 entrants.

In race two Teddy started seventh on the grid and was on the move up the field and in fourth place when another driver charged up the inside, lost control of his car on a kerb and dropped a wheel on the grass.

This catapulted his car across the track into Teddy's, resulting in both Teddy and another driver in front of him crashing out in spectacular fashion. 

The driver who caused the collision was penalised but it left Teddy's car badly damaged.

With just four hours until the third and final race of the weekend, the DC Autosport team set to work repairing it, but they were unable to do so adequately for him to take part.

Earlier this month it was announced by Autosport that Teddy has been nominated for this year's highly prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.

"Just when I need to be showcasing what I am capable of, we seem to be out of luck and out of budget," says Teddy, a Loughborough College Motorsport UK AASE Academy member.

"Although I am determined not to give up my efforts to keep racing yet!"

"I have a great team of family, supporters and partners behind me, including C S Ellis (Group) Ltd, Versatile Venues, Safe Products Ltd, Scholl Concepts UK, Custom Racewear and Walero.

"I just hope I can find the necessary additional support and investment to keep racing and get the results needed."

Teddy is 6th in the 2019 F4 US Championship standings after Round 3. The fourth round is a support race for the Nascar Xfinity Mid-Ohio Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from 8 to 10 August.

However, Teddy looks unlikely to be racing due to budget restraints. 

For more details on Teddy and his racing, visit his website by clicking the red button below or email [email protected].