Warehouse Worker Takes The Fast Lane

A warehouse worker has decided to spend life in the fast lane and start motor racing. Ben Taylor is a rising star who has caught the eye of celebrities.

A 23-year old furniture warehouse worker is living life in the fast lane at weekends. Ben Taylor has started motor car racing in his spare time.

He was brought up around the sport through his father Bert Taylor but for the past 12 months he has been racing in a Vauxhall Tigra for Team Ningbo. He has already caught the eye of celebrity followers including X-Factor Judge Louis Walsh. The former Westlife manager has followed the rising star on Twitter.

Ben works for Ningbo, a furniture firm which also sponsors his car. His dream is to win the National Hot Rods, a non contact oval competition. He raced in the competition this year and won the final. He is back in action there in January 2013. He said: "We've only done five meetings this year because the season starts halfway through the year. In our fourth meeting at Ipswich we won a heat and a final and it doesn't get much better than that in Hot Rod racing. The final is the big race on a night, it's 35 laps and we managed to win it. It was really good, we did well."

Ben is quick to dismiss claims that the sport is dangerous. "The cars are really, really safe and at the end of the day it is a hobby and we've all got to go to work on Monday morning. The draw for me is the speed, the adrenalin rush you get with the racing and with the Hot Rods. It's short oval racing so for a spectator you don't really get much better. It's a quarter mile oval in front of you. They don't just drive past and you have to wait another minute to wait for them to come back round. It's all in front of you....it's fast and that's what people want."

However, motor racing is an expensive hobby and sponsorship is a must. "Any help you can get is very much needed. It's all the little things and it's not just about money, it's just help that anyone can give you. It's greatly appreciated," added Ben.