A SON has fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a race car driver after snagging third place at a national Porsche championship.

Paul Blakesley from Tiptree will attend an awards ceremony held by Porsche GB after winning bronze against semi-pro racers, despite having never raced before.

The 46-year-old paint technician competed in six races with a Porsche his garage team rebuilt from scratch for over six months.

Porsche proposed the restoration project in 2017 to 15 of their independent repairers across the country, including Lancashire Witham Body Repairs where Paul works.

The project marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the Porsche Boxter.

Paul said: “The idea was the guys that actually built the car and painted it would drive it.

“Later on we found out some of the guys who were racing weren’t actual amateurs, they were semi-professionals.

“I’ve got no experience whatsoever with driving or racing, I’d never been on the track so it’s completely new to me. I really surprised myself.”

After six races across the country Paul made it to the championship and won third place.

He added: “It’s just unheard of that somebody like me can come into this racing against semi-professionals and actually have a fantastic result.

“My dad used to work for Ford’s rally team based in Essex, so I’ve always had an interest in rallying and motorsport, but I’ve never done anything with it.

“It’s every boy’s dream to be a racer. Now at the ripe old age of 46 I’ve been given the opportunity and proven myself - it’s fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“My dad’s 71 and has been to all my races. We had some lovely moments coming off the track. Dad gave me a big hug, proud as punch, shouting at the top of his voice ‘that’s my son’.

“It’s been lovely to do something like that and to have made my dad proud.”