14-year-old Blake Cooper of Invercargill has been named Southland Sports Car Club's junior driver of the year after competing in his first ClubSport motorsports season.

ClubSport is the sports entry level competition, designed for young competitors, and is organised by the Southland Sports Car Club at Teretonga Park.

Cooper, a Year 10 student at James Hargest College, follows in the footsteps of his cousin Josh Cooper - who has gained success both in ClubSport and more recently circuit racing.

Cooper contested motorkhana events initially (timed runs around tight courses laid out with cones) in a Toyota Starlet, a stock standard road car, before entering some of the club’s Autocross events (slightly more advanced) towards the end of the season.

So well did he do that at season’s end he was named the club’s Junior Driver Of The Year.

Cooper said the award was not what he had expected, however the season had been amazing and really good.

"Everyone was so helpful and it was a bonus having cousin Josh plus uncle and aunty Gregg and Cindy Cooper (Cindy is the club’s three-time Ladies Champion) close at hand for advice as well."

"It was about having fun but it was good to learn how to control a car properly at the same time.”

Cooper said he would definitely be back next season and in time would like to get into circuit racing.

Cooper is also a keen target rifle shooter and downhill mountain biker, while in his primary school years he competed in moto-x events.

Anyone from 12 years of age and over can participate in ClubSport (with parental consent required for younger competitors). They can use their own car or hire the Evolution Motorsport Nissan Sentra if they wish for a small fee.

The 2024/2025 ClubSport season commences at Teretonga Park on Sunday 1 September with a further five rounds over the summer months.