Toby Sowery has taken another title after becoming the MRF Challenge 2014 Champion at the weekend in Chennai, India (January 24-25).

The 18-year-old, who stepped up from karting last year, securing the MSV F3 Cup in his debut season with Lanan Racing, was the favourite to secure the MRF Challenge crown heading into the event after leading the way in Qatar and Bahrain.

Sowery didn’t disappoint either, comfortably winning race 1, after making a superb start to lead into the first corner.

The Cambridgeshire youngster then took the spoils in race 2 as well, despite having to start sixth due to the reverse grid system, quickly rising through the field and by lap 4 was back out front, a position he held all the way to the chequered flag.

That result secured him the title and after finishing second and sixth in races 3 and 4 respectively on Sunday, he ended the season with 221 points in total, 47 more than his closest rival.

“It has been a great weekend,” said the Sowery. “It seemed to take ages to work out whether I had actually won the championship after race 2 on Saturday, but when it was confirmed after the podium it was a double celebration. I am so grateful to my team, MRF and of course my sponsors for the MRF series, Cosmetic Surgery Partners.”

“Today I knew I was Champion and in the first race [race 3] I decided to settle for second to help my team-mate Ryan Cullen secure the runners-up spot in the Championship,” he added. “Then with everyone battling for position in front of me this afternoon in race 4, I thought, “OK let’s maintain the 100 per cent no damage record and bring the car home in one piece”, which I did.

“It is a fantastic feeling to follow up my success in F3 with this title and it sets me up perfectly for the coming year.”

Meanwhile, Race Driver Development’s Graeme Glew, Sowery’s manager, was impressed with how the 18-year-old soaked up the pressure this weekend.

“Since watching Toby at Silverstone in the wet last year it was clear that he has something special,” said Glew. “The MRF series has proven that. He has taken nine podiums from 12 starts – including from six reverse grid races. Not many drivers win one championship in their first year after karting never mind two! It is a very impressive achievement for someone still at a relatively early stage of their career.”