Taunton teenager Adam Sharpe today (Monday) signed with prestigious British sports car manufacturer Morgan to race their Aero 8 machine alongside the experienced Neil Cunningham in pursuit of the British GT Championship's Cup Class.

Sharpe, still only 18, has already shown great potential in Atlanta Motorsport's Clio V6 GT car and recently achieved a terrific podium finish in the Formula Palmer Audi single-seater championship by passing 12 cars on a slippery track to finish third.

Australian Cunningham, with 15 years' international racing experience, said: "We're very impressed with Adam's progress and reliability. His Formula Palmer Audi podium last week shows that he can set the pace, while at the same time he looks after his cars. That's the combination I'm looking for in my second driver."

Sharpe, meanwhile, will race the Morgan Aero 8, run by the Richard Thorne Motorsport team, for the first time at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire on 12th/13th July. "What a moment in my racing career this is!" said Sharpe. "The Morgan name is one of the most historic in British motoring. To be driving one of their cars is extra special."

Adam has been helping Atlanta develop their Clio V6 GT car, but was disappointed by news from that team that the Clio would not be ready for yesterday's (Sunday) Castle Combe meeting. "It's my home circuit and we had arranged a lot of news coverage for this event," said Adam, who is backed by south west-based terrestrial television channel HTV. "However, I am sure that my local sponsors will be absolutely delighted to see me in this superb Morgan. It's a part of British history as well as being the enthusiast's ultimate sports car. I'm very honoured to have been given this opportunity by the works team."

Adam is also keen to join forces with the Morgan philosophy of providing development opportunity for young drivers. Away from the race track, Adam and his driver team are planning a summer-long series of events throughout the West Country to help promote promising young sports people gain the backing they need.

He said: "I've gained a great deal from my association with motorsport and I want to help give something back as I know only too well how hard it is to keep going when funds or facilities are unavailable." A karting club for underprivileged children and a scout group who want to develop their facilities are just two examples of where Oxford Brookes University Technology Management student Adam will be spending his summer. "Palmer Audi have been really generous in offering me the use of their two-seater formula racing car to give prize-winners at our events the chance to sit behind me and drive a circuit at race speeds," said Adam. "We will be setting up events with our Morgan team chief Richard Thorne, who is the Reading-based Morgan main dealer."

Adam races his Formula Palmer Audi single seater next this coming weekend, 28th/29th June at the famous Italian Formula One Grand Prix circuit of Monza, near Milan, before returning to the UK for his first race in the Morgan at Oulton Park on 12-13 July.