Rising Heysham motorsport star wins Young Driver of the Year award

A teenage motor racing driver from Heysham has fought off competition to win a prestigious Young Driver of the Year award.

Ethan Jeff-Hall won the Motorsport UK Academy Young Driver of The Year after winning a competition at Silverstone.

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship title challenger, 17, was one of five standout second-year students from the Enhanced Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme shortlisted for the award, which recognises sporting excellence as well as academic performance, along with attainment, effort and overall engagement.

The nominees completed a series of physical fitness tests, driving skill and eye tracking assessments on Silverstone-based iZone’s three state-of-the art GT and single-seater simulators.

They also underwent panel interviews and presenting on their own experiences gained during the Motorsport UK Academy Enhanced DiSE Programme, followed by a Q&A with some members of the judging panel.

The Enhanced DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) programme is delivered in collaboration with Loughborough College Group and is a bespoke, two-year sporting excellence and motor vehicle education course designed to support talented drivers and co-drivers through both the sporting and academic pathway.

Ethan impressed the judges and was awarded the trophy, and will receive a comprehensive prize package including training and development with iZone Driver Performance.

He said it was "an incredibly special moment".

"To receive this recognition means a huge amount to me," said Ethan.

"Motorsport is a team sport, and none of this would be possible without the support of my family, team, partners and everyone who has backed me on this journey.

"I’m grateful for every opportunity and motivated more than ever to keep learning, keep pushing and continue chasing my dreams.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. This is just the beginning."

Ethan won the OK Karting world championship in 2024, and was then part of an elite scouting camp with Ferrari aiming to find the next generation of Formula 1 stars.

As well as becoming world champ in only his second race in the class, in 2024 he also won the Ginetta Junior and Rookie Championships, during his first year in cars.

In 2025, his first year in British F4, he chalked up a win and four other podium finishes, coming fifth in the overall standings.

The Argenti Motorsport driver now lies third in the 2026 competition.

He first fell in love with motor racing when he was two years old and saw coin-operated go-karts while on a family holiday.

Ethan told Beyond Radio in 2024 his ambition is to race at the famous F1 circuit in Monaco.