A TEENAGE rally driver is hoping to stand on top of the winners’ podium. . . three months before he can pass his driving test.

Ruan Lowry discovered a love of motorsport when he was just 10 years old.

Six years later, he is getting behind the wheel and challenging for the prestigious Junior Ecosse 1000 Challenge title.

The 16-year-old was competing in Ayrshire last month at the sixth round of the championship.

Sitting fifth in the overall standings, the teenager is determined to keep battling for glory.

He told Courier Sport about his love for the sport.

The Dunbar teenager said: “There is a mixture of different things but the speed, the noise and the thrill is what I enjoy.

“There is the camaraderie and the whole environment and stuff like that. The driving and competing as well and having a competition which is really quite fun and being a part of the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge.”

Unusually, Lowry comes from a family with no motorsport experience.

However, he developed an interest at an early age and is being supported by experienced co-driver Ian McRae and the training team at Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge.

He said: “I always felt, maybe not a massive interest, but had an interest in cars and cool noises from cars from a young age.

“At maybe 10 or a bit younger, I did a bit of rental karting and at about 12 I started taking it a bit further.

“At maybe 14, I was doing a bit of driving with the young driver programme at Ingliston and then another step further at Knockhill.”

Junior Ecosse 1000 is an organisation that gives 14-17-year-olds the chance to compete in eight rally events across the country each year.

All the competitors drive 1,000cc, non-turbo, two-wheel drive cars, with Lowry behind the wheel of a Skoda Citigo.

Championship regulations dictate that tuning of engines is not allowed and gearboxes remain standard to ensure closely contested action.

There is still all to play for in the remaining three events, with Lowry sitting just 12 points adrift of second-placed Jack Ryan.

He said: “The season has been going really well.

“There have been six events so far and I think it is going really well.

“To be honest, compared to other people who were born into karting or done lots of karting championships, some with more money than others, I think I have been doing really well.

“Up until the last event, I was third out of about 25 entrants.”

Events, which stretch from March to November, are spread across the country from Machrihanish to Kinghorn, with a final round in Anglesey.

With three rounds remaining, Lowry, who attended Fettes College in Edinburgh, is still in the mix at the top thanks to his consistent performances.

The teenager, who does not turn 17 until the beginning of December, is hoping to race to the top of the sport.

Describing his ultimate dream, he said: “World Rally Championship champion. If I can beat Sebastien Loeb, a nine-time world champion, that would be the dream.”

Lowry, who has lined up a college course relating to motorsport, is also on the lookout for sponsorship to held him in his budding career.

Anyone keen to help can find out more by going to www.ruanlowry.com