Seventeen-year-old Tom Cannon from Newton-le-Willows secured third place in the final race of the season at Snetterton on Sunday, marking a successful end to his rookie campaign with Team BRIT, the world's only competitive racing team made up entirely of disabled drivers.

Tom celebrating with his family (Image: Peter Markwick)

Tom, who was diagnosed with autism in 2023, joined Team BRIT at the start of 2026 for a developmental season in the team's BMW M240i after progressing from karting and sim racing into circuit racing.

For the final event of the year, he teamed up with experienced Team BRIT driver Asha Silva, who is also autistic.

Following a productive test day on Friday, the pair headed into Sunday feeling confident.

Tom (Image: Jess Croome)

Silva got the team off to a strong start by claiming fourth place in the morning race before handing over to Tom for the afternoon contest.

The Newton-le-Willows teenager then produced one of his strongest performances of the season, crossing the line in third place to secure his first podium finish of the year.

Throughout his debut season, Tom has learned alongside some of Team BRIT's most experienced drivers, including fellow autistic racer Bobby Trundley, who acted as both teammate and mentor during the opening stages of the campaign.

Tom (Image: David Allen - 938Media)

Reflecting on his first year in car racing, Tom said: "It's been an amazing first year and I'm really proud to finish it with a podium.

"When I joined Team BRIT at the start of the season, I wanted to learn as much as possible, gain experience and develop as a driver, and I feel I've achieved that.

"The support from everyone at Team BRIT has been incredible. Bobby has been a fantastic mentor throughout the season, always willing to share his experience and help me improve, and it was brilliant to race alongside Asha this weekend too.

"Both of them have shown me so much and helped me grow in confidence as a driver.

"I've learned a huge amount this year, both on and off the track, and being part of a team that understands and supports autistic drivers has made a massive difference.

"I'm already looking forward to next season and taking the next step in my racing career. Hopefully I can secure the backing and sponsorship I need to continue progressing and build on everything I've learned this year."

Tom celebrating with his family (Image: David Allen - 938Media)

Team BRIT was founded to create opportunities for disabled drivers to compete in motorsport while challenging perceptions around disability.

The team's long-term ambition is to become the first all-disabled team to compete in the famous Le Mans 24 Hours.

Tom discovered his passion for motorsport through karting and sim racing before impressing Team BRIT during assessment sessions and test days.

He has previously spoken about how autism helps him focus on preparation, spending hundreds of hours studying circuits and analysing performance before race weekends.

Information on Team BRIT can be found at www.teambrit.co.uk.