NEWHAVEN hot rod driver Shaun Proudlock has landed another major international title.

The 19-year-old former world champion beat the best of the home nation's drivers during a top meeting in South Africa.

Now Proudlock is looking to the summer when he hopes to regain the world crown which he won two years ago.

The Sussex 2-litre hot rod ace was one of five drivers picked to represent Great Britain in a tour of South Africa.

Britain lost the three match series 2-1, but Proudlock got his revenge in the Champion of Champions meeting which completed the tour.

In the 40-lap race, Proudlock roared home in first place to take the prestigious title.

After returning to Sussex this year, Proudlock said: "We lost the tour 2-1, but the last meeting was the Champion of Champions, which I won.

"In fact, Great Britain got first, second and third, which made it a great end to the tour.'

It was Proudlock's first visit to South Africa and he was granted time off work from Seahaven Caravans in Newhaven in order to represent his country.

His next big date is this year's world championships which will be in July.

"I will be racing regularly until then, but that is the next big target for me," said Shaun.

l BURGESS Hill's Mark Ticehurst has missed out on landing a driving role for Vauxhall in this year's British Touring Car Series.

Ticehurst, the unofficial champion of the Vauxhall Vectra SR1 V6 Challenge last season, has been test driving for Vauxhall over the winter and had been hoping to be given a drive this year.

He has not given up all hope of driving in the series, although he does have other options.

Ticehurst said: "I have had a lot of interest from independent Touring Car teams, plus National Saloon Car Cup teams and Renault Clio Series teams. I fully intend to continue racing this season."

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