A NORTH-EAST renewable energy company has given its backing to a local racing driver who is competing in the UK’s biggest Mini driving competition for a team which has its own impressive environmental credentials.

Go Geothermal Ltd is sponsoring Dominic Wheatley as he races in the Mini Challenge UK John Cooper Works Class (JCW) in the 2023 season, which started at Donington Park at the end of April.

As a key sponsor Go Geothermal, which is based in Newton Aycliffe and is the largest supplier of heat pumps in the UK, will have the logo of its CTC heat pump brand on display on Dominic’s car and team racewear.

Dominic, who is from Hartlepool, races for Graves Motorsports and this will be his second season competing in the Mini JCW class. He made the step up after winning the Mini Cooper class in 2021. At the first race of the season, Dominic finished 4th overall and won the Graduate Cup in his class.

The Northern Echo: Dominic with his CTC sponsored MiniDominic with his CTC sponsored Mini (Image: SHAEFER PR)

Working with Carbon Positive Motorsport, Graves Motorsports has pledged to offset the carbon produced from burning the fuel used in its race car, and the private transport used to get to and from the racetracks, by 125 per cent in 2023.

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Sean Sowden, director of Go Geothermal Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Dominic as he competes in the Mini Challenge in 2023.

“As a company with its roots in the North-East, we are pleased to be able to give something back in this way, supporting a promising young local driver who is making a name for himself in the racing world.

“We were also drawn to the positive environmental pledge made by Dominic’s team on carbon reduction as this fits nicely with our own business ethos, so it has great strategic value to us as well.”

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Dominic said: “Sponsorship plays a vital part in racing at this level of competition, so I am grateful for Go Geothermal’s support during the new season.

“It is nice to have the backing of a local company with sound environmental credentials and having made our pledge as a team to lower our carbon footprint, all in all it represents a great partnership.”

Dominic will be competing in the next Mini Challenge event at Brands Hatch on May 6.