Bedford School student is at the top of the National Formula Ford Championship tables after Donington Park victory

Alex Walker, 17, enjoyed his second BRSCC National Formula 1600 victory of the season at the weekend

Bedford School student Alex Walker enjoyed his second BRSCC National Formula 1600 victory of the season at Donington Park on Sunday.

Walker, 17, began his motorsport career in karting, showing early promise and progressing to car racing in the FIA F4 Championship after winning a scholarship.

Sunday’s win is Walker’s fourth victory in the Formula Ford category in the last four competitions, placing him in the lead in the National Formula Ford Championship ahead of B-M Racing’s Rory Smith and leading US driver Max Esterson in his first full season in car racing.

Sundays win is Walkers fourth victory in the Formula Ford category in the last four competitions. (PIC: Bourne Photography)

Reflecting on the race, Walker said: “Claiming my second national victory in my first full season is mind blowing, I can’t believe it!

“My other competitors hold over 20 national and international titles between them, with drivers travelling from all over the world to compete.

“It was a really exciting race and I had to fight hard to push my way past seven other drivers to claim the win.

“My next race is Silverstone and it’s always exciting to be at the British home of motorsport, I’ll be pulling out all the stops to repeat my performance last weekend at Donington.”

Walker is now in the lead in the National Formula Ford Championship. (PIC: Bourne Photography)

The race was certainly one for spectators, despite numbers being limited due to Covid restrictions.

Walker climbed through the field after a reverse grid start, before passing erstwhile leaders Rory Smith and Swift Cooper’s Luke Cooper – who finished second and third – to win by a relatively comfortable 1.8-second margin.

Having placed third in Saturday’s race one and won round two earlier on Sunday, Walker, had drawn number eight out of the hat for the reverse grid race, with current champion Smith lining up two rows ahead.

A champion kart racer, he hopes to follow Formula Ford alumni Ayrton Senna, Jenson Button, Mark Webber and David Coulthard up the motorsport ladder, aiming to be a professional racer in the Indy Car scene in years to come.

Walker is sponsored by Bedford-based Cambria Wealth Management.