A TEENAGE racing driver is set to drive in her first international race – behind the wheel of a Formula 4 car and 6,000 miles away in Asia.

Emily Linscott, 15, will race in the F4 South East Asia Championships next weekend.

The youngster got a call from the F4 South East Asia organisers mid-October offering her the chance to race the last three rounds, which included one round in Thailand, and two in Malaysia.

Due to prior commitments and the fact that she didn’t have the right licence, she was unable to make the race in Buriram, Thailand.

The final round in Sepang clashes with her first mock exams, but her management team agreed that this was an opportunity not to be missed, so set about raising the sponsorship to allow her to compete.

With the help of an existing sponsor, GoBobby.UK, a Website Hosting and Domain Registration business, she was able to secure the drive, just two days before she had to fly out.

Emily said: “I couldn’t believe I’d been offered this amazing chance to race in my first ever international race, and in an F4 car too, it’s crazy!

“I had a major decision to make as racing abroad meant upgrading my race licence, so I couldn’t then race in the Ginetta Junior class I raced all season, but it’s F4 I really want to pursue next season, so I took the plunge.”

Emily, of St Clere’s School in Stanford-le-Hope, arrived in Malaysia last Sunday night. She then had media duties the next day and walked the famous Sepang F1 circuit, on which she will race.

Emily added: “I’m treating this as my winter testing since I can’t get out in an F4 car in the UK before the testing ban comes in. It’ll be only my second drive of an F4 car.

“I honestly can’t wait to get behind the wheel, it’s going to be tough, but I’m up for it. The flights are 14 hours long, so I’ll be doing my school work on the plane, it’s a deal I’ve done with the school which I’m very happy about.”