Young Talents shine at Junior Rallycross Season Opener

The Easter weekend saw Lydden Hill host the opening rounds of the Junior Rallycross Championship, where Carbon Positive Motorsport’s support is helping embed environmental awareness from the start.

The 2025 Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship got off to a spectacular start at Lydden Hill in Kent, with two action-packed rounds showcasing the skill, determination and sportsmanship of Britain’s next generation of racing talent. Now in its third year of partnership with the championship, Carbon Positive Motorsport continues to support every Junior Rallycross driver by directly offsetting the race fuel they use—enabling young competitors to reduce their environmental impact from the very beginning of their motorsport journey.

The Junior Rallycross Championship forms part of the 5 Nations British Rallycross Championship and provides a competitive and supportive environment for 13 to 18-year-olds to develop their skills on mixed-surface circuits. The opening weekend highlighted just how strong and diverse this year’s grid is, with both returning drivers and newcomers putting in standout performances.

Fifteen-year-old Cayden Harris dominated the opening rounds, converting strong qualifying form into two convincing victories. The Hockley-based driver has established himself as the early championship favourite, after demonstrating consistency, confidence and excellent race craft.

Teddie Macpherson proved to be his closest rival, despite challenging qualifying sessions in Round 1, he fought back to claim second place, followed up with another strong second-place finish in Round 2, posting consistently competitive lap times throughout both finals.

Tommy Brown, the fifteen-year-old former motocross competitor, made a spectacular transition to four-wheel racing. His fourth-place finish in Round 1 followed by a podium in Round 2 marked an impressive debut in the championship, showcasing the diverse talent pool in junior rallycross.

Harrison Folley also earned a podium in the first round, while thirteen-year-old William Hands gained valuable experience with steady improvement across the weekend. Returning competitor Phoebe Cake was in the mix throughout and narrowly missed out on a podium finish.

Canterbury’s Mason Ovenden made a brave debut at his home circuit, pushing on to complete the final despite a lifted bonnet limiting his visibility. His determined drive to the chequered flag in the final demonstrating the intensely competitive nature of this year's championship.  

Championship Organiser Peter Gwynne said: “The opening rounds at Lydden Hill have demonstrated exactly what the Junior Rallycross Championship is all about - developing young talent and providing a platform for fair, competitive racing.

"Every driver showed tremendous progress throughout the weekend, and it's particularly encouraging to see our newcomers adapting so quickly to the challenges of mixed-surface racing."

Carbon Positive Motorsport’s involvement goes beyond fuel offsetting. Through its partnership with the championship, we encourage drivers to consider their environmental impact at an early stage, sharing knowledge and practical actions that they can carry with them throughout their careers.

Steve Smith, founder of Carbon Positive Motorsport, said: “We’re into our third year of supporting the Junior Rallycross Championship, and it continues to be one of the most rewarding partnerships we’ve built. It’s vital that we help young drivers understand the role they can play in a more sustainable sport.

"Drive safe, enjoy the sport, and always try to consider the environment around you – not just by offsetting, but by making choices that reduce your impact on and off the track.”

The championship now heads to Mondello Park in Ireland for Rounds 3 and 4, where a determined field of young drivers will continue their fight for the title.

The full 2025 Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship calendar is as follows:

• Rounds 1 & 2 - 19th & 21st April - Lydden Hill, UK

• Rounds 3 & 4 - 24th & 25th May - Mondello Park, Ireland

• Rounds 5 & 6 - 26th & 27th July - Pembrey Circuit, Wales

• Round 7 - TBA

• Rounds 8 & 9 - 8th & 9th November - Lydden Hill, UK

By supporting initiatives like Junior Rallycross, we’re helping to shape a future where performance and responsibility go hand in hand.

For further information about the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship and its environmental initiatives, please contact: info@swiftrallycross.com

To help extend the impact of this initiative beyond the paddock, Carbon Positive Motorsport is offering a special discount code for friends, family, and supporters. Anyone wishing to offset their own motorsport-related emissions can use the code JuniorRallyX25 when purchasing offsets.

All offsets support verified UK-based rewilding projects, delivered in collaboration with Highland Carbon. These projects are accredited under the Sequoia Carbon Standard, providing measurable benefits to biodiversity, habitat restoration, and long-term climate resilience.

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