The 23-year-old from Great Budworth has sold his lorry and his beloved motorbike to finance a bid for success in the British Fiesta Championship.

Despite never having competed in a driving championship of any kind before, he insists he isn't mad.

"I should have been doing this years ago because I have always believed I had the ability to do well. But when other drivers were learning their trade in karting I was doing motocross," he said.

"Then I went to university in Leicester studying German. I graduated 18 months ago and, since then, I have been working towards this goal. I have got the education to fall back on if everything goes wrong."

Andrew will race under the banner of the Warrington based BIM team, which was home to Cuddington's driving hotshot Daniel Buxton last year.

Buxton will be driving for the Tim Norton Racing team this year, allowing Howarth to take his place in the BIM hotseat.

Competing in the whole championship is expected to cost £35,000. Andrew has saved £10,000 of his own money and is receiving valuable support from his parents.

But he admits his lack of experience and the fact he is an unknown has presented problems in the search for a sponsor.

"There is an awful lot of competition for sponsors. So far I have been unsuccessful but now I am committed to driving cash support is vital. With things the way they are at the moment my car could be completely blank when the season starts," he added.

Indeed, Andrew has already proved he has ability.

Last year he reached the final of the highly competitive Vauxhall Vectra Challenge.

Alan Morrision, who also won last year's Fiesta Championship, won the event and received £100,000 of sponsorship as a result.

Andrew said: "I was a bit nervous in the final because I was up against people I recognised, experienced competitors.

"It was embarassing having to borrow equipment off people but the experience did give me the kick up the backside I needed to go for it this year."

Andrew went through six rounds of racing in the week long event to reach the Vectra final ahead of more experienced drivers.

His position as an unknown could yet stand in his favour though.

"In the Vectra final there were a lot of people there to watch and I was the only driver nobody knew a thing about. So I think I could cause a few surprises this season," added Andrew.

Indeed, he made an impression on the organiser of the event, British GT champion Tim Sugden.

He said: "As a complete novice, Andrew listened and learned very well in progressing through the various stages of our scholarship. I feel genuinely confident that with the right guidance, Andrew could become a regular winner."

Having only received his racing licence last week, he can now prepare to do some testing in order to prove Tim's prediction right.

The opening meeting in the championship is on the same billing as the Touring Cars at Donnington in April.

If you would like to help Andrew with sponsorship, then contact him on 01606 891739.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.