Teenager Charlie Key is celebrating as his memorable recent run continued when he became a national champion.

Newark’s Key won the National Ministox (Gold Roof) National Championship at Skegness Raceway earlier this month.

“The National Championship is the biggest one to win,” suggested his dad, Matt. “He didn’t really go into it with any expectations - but ended up winning it!

“I think it’s the best 12 out of 15 rounds that they take and the top 26 get the chance to go into the final for the National Championship.

“Charlie got forced towards a wall at the start, which we thought he would be, but he basically led from the second lap.

“It’s a massive achievement for him.”

The latest success came after the 15-year-old tasted National Ministox European Championship glory in the Netherlands in August.

Matt explained: “There’s five major championships in the year, with ‘Gold’ being the biggest.

“This year, Charlie won the Europeans, as well, which I would say is the second-biggest championship. When he won the Europeans, there were Dutch entrants that he was racing against.

“This one used to be called the World Championships but got changed to the National Championship because it’s only UK racers.”

As part of Charlie’s latest win, he now has the right to run a prestigious gold roof on his Ministox.

“He was speechless,” Matt said. “Obviously, they did an interview with him after the race - but he was just absolutely gob-smacked!

“All they got out of him was he was overwhelmed to win the Europeans, which he was, but to now also have the Gold, he didn’t know what to say.

“But if you keep fighting hard for something, it just shows things will come good in the end.”

His vehicle is expected to be sent off for its makeover this weekend and Charlie is now starting to spend more time with his dad, looking at helping to maintain it.

“He spends as much time in the garage as I do, sorting his tyres and things like that,” said Matt. “It helps him understand the amount of work that goes into the car.”

The competition may be fierce on the track, although Charlie has made plenty of friends off it, too.

His father said: “He has got the odd friend from home but, where we’re out racing every weekend, most of his friends are from racing.

“Once they’re on the track, they aren’t really friends. But they are friends as soon as they come back off the track again.”

While Charlie’s European victory came abroad, his national joy was much closer to home.

Matt said: “It was only just over an hour away so it’s quite local to us, to be fair.

“It was another massive achievement but they are just kids, aren’t they?

“Sometimes, they don’t realise how well they do.”

The season isn’t quite over for Charlie yet, either, with the Buxton Track Championships due to conclude on Saturday, October 31, before he moves on to the next stage of his racing journey when he turns 16.

“I’ve just said to him we will wait until he gets through his Minis first,” Matt added.

“I don’t want to take his focus off his Minis where he is doing so well.”