A NEILSTON teenager is fast becoming East Renfrewshire’s answer to Lewis Hamilton.

At just 16, Erica Winning is carving a name for herself in the high-speed world of car rallying.

The plucky schoolgirl was the youngest rally driver in Britain when she got behind the wheel for the first time at the age of 14.

Now she is well on the way to becoming a mini superstar and looking forward to taking part in races across Britain again as sport starts to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.

Erica, a sixth year pupil at Eastwood High School, was encouraged to take up the sport by dad Gordon, also a rally driver.

Barrhead News:

In the space of two years, she has notched up some impressive wins in her specially-adapted Nissan Micra.

Her life in the fast lane got the green flag after she sailed through exams set by the British Association of Rally Schools, achieving 100 per cent in the written tests.

Now she enjoys the adrenaline rush produced by hitting up to 85mph on some of the country’s most challenging tracks.

Erica told the Barrhead News: “It’s exciting and scary at the same time and you have to be in total control of the car.

“It tests my co-ordination, concentration and motivation but it’s great fun.”

Erica is, however, aware of the risks posed by being too eager to put the foot down in tricky sections of difficult routes.

She hit a tree in the second stage of her debut rally at Ingliston but, fortunately, suffered nothing more than bruised pride.

Despite that initial glitch, success was to lie ahead for the talented teen.

In 2018, Erica was named ladies champion by the Scottish Sporting Car Club and she has also notched up four Production Car Autotest wins.

For these, she had to negotiate her way around a low-speed course as quickly as possible, without hitting any markers.

Erica admits she can’t wait for the sport to resume, alongside her navigator Ellya Gold.

She said: “I’m currently preparing, along with my sponsors, to go into the new season of the J1000 Ecosse challenge and autotesting.

“My mum and and dad, Jennifer and Gordon, are very proud of my achievements so far but my little sister Anna, who is 14, wants nothing to do with rallying whatsoever.”

Erica also has advice for any other East Renfrewshire youngster who is keen to get involved in rallying.

“Go for it,” she said. “It’ll be the best decision you will ever make.”