BLACKBURN youngster Tom Bradshaw has set his sights on the Formula Palmer Audi Championship for next season.

Bradshaw brought his debut 20-race season to a close with his maiden victory at Croft.

And after admitting he didn't want the campaign to come to end, the 17-year-old, who won the North West Formula Ford title in 2006, revealed he was full of confidence and raring to go for next year.

He said: "I could have just kept on racing. The win gives me such a confidence boost and I need to carry it through to the start of next season. I've got the knowledge now that I can win and that's a huge help.

"It was an unbelievable feeling to get that first win, a real monkey off my back and a big relief. My hopes were beginning to diminish over the last couple of rounds, but I kept my head up and it was an amazing feeling.

"It felt as good as winning the Championship the previous year."

Despite just the one victory, Bradshaw, who finished sixth in the Championship, can consider himself desperately unlucky not to add to his impressive record, having finished on pole several times and set fastest lap times throughout the season.

But, rather than be disappointment and dwelling on what might have been, Bradshaw has soaked up the season and learned as much as he can to enable him to return better than ever.

He added: "It's been a brilliant learning curve and I've come a long way from the start of the season. To be honest I didn't expect it to be so competitive. At Snetterton I was one tenth of a second off pole position and I ended up sixth on the grid.

"But when you're driving against these people who are the best in the country then you improve massively.

"My target now has got to be to win the Championship. I've just got to work on my consistency and, if I can turn these pole positions into wins, then I'll have a good chance."

ggibbon@the-let.co.uk