A BURTONWOOD racing driver is seeking a new thrill after landing his 10th successive national title.

Phil Cooper began racing when he was 12 years old and has dominated the British Autograss Series since joining the senior ranks in 2000.

Having won 17 national championships in total, and becoming the first man to win the title at classes seven, eight, nine and 10, the 29-year-old is considering turning his attention to the 750-Motorclub Bikesports Championship.

It would mean leaving his Duratec-powered vehicles behind and beginning a new challenge on the track in his Radical PR6.

“When I won 10 championships I thought, 'what I should do next?'” explained the Unilever engineer.

“I didn’t tell anybody about the 10 years in a row as I didn’t want to mention it before it happened.

“The Radical is something totally different, I’ve had quite a few mates who have gone into it and I wanted something that was going to be exciting to drive.

“But there are quite a few dates in the race calendar that clash, so I’m going to have to make a decision and at the moment I don’t know what to do next year.”

However, Cooper is already getting comfortable with the Radical, having enjoyed successful outings at Silverstone and Rockingham.

“It’s really good to drive,” he explained. “To take corners at Silverstone at 140/150mph is quite some feeling.

“It’s totally different to drive and technically a different challenge. When I did my first meeting at Rockingham I had no idea where I would be, but I had a third and a second so I was chuffed to bits .

“The other drivers from the Autograss series, when you are racing against them, you sometimes don’t get on with them.

“But when they see you moving onto something else there's a general feeling they want you to do well.”

And racing runs in the blood of the Cooper family, with Phil taking on the mantle from his parents.

“Mum and dad raced for years before I was born and I started on motocross when I was six,” he added.

“My dad raced until 2005 and mum raced up to last year. My Mrs, Lisa, races too. I do the maintenance, which you have to, but I love the racing.

“I broke my back when I was 16 and had a full brace for six months, but I wanted to keep going so I adapted the car to race with it on.”