A SUCCESSFUL racing driver from near Wem is set to make a comeback this month after five years away from the circuit.

Alex 'Bomber' Harris, from Harmer Hill and former winner of the MSVR Golf Gti Championship had been planning to build a new race car and had started preparations to race in 2021.

But between his day job as an events manager, being a husband and father and playing drums in a pop covers band, preparations were slow, with only had a couple of hours a week to work on the car in his small garage at home.

The lockdown meant Alex suddenly had plenty of free time on his hands, allowing him to finish his project a year early.

"I thought it would be an 18-month project with the idea of getting back on track in the autumn of 2021," said Alex. "Along came the pandemic lockdown and all of a sudden I had a lot more spare time.

"I needed to keep my hands and mind busy to mitigate the mental aspects of the craziness going on in the world.

"Having raced Mk2 Golfs and been successful in them in the past, I know them inside out and already had most of the parts ready to go.

"Everything else I needed I just ordered off the internet and had delivered to my home.

"I refreshed my welding skills with YouTube videos and just got stuck in, stripping out anything heavy or unneeded, fitting the roll cage and all the other safety equipment required for racing"

Since the lockdown has eased, various companies have come forward to support Alex's renewed racing ambitions with sponsorship, including Beaver Bridges, JP Audiovisual and Dawley Laundrette.

Alex's first race in the new car is in the Classic VW Cup at Thruxton racing circuit in Hampshire on August 23. Live timing and race results will be available at www.TSL-timing.com

For more information and to sponsor Alex, visit www.facebook.com/teambomberracing