FOR someone with the initials TT it is entirely apt that they should be rapt by speed.

But it’s not souped-up motorbikes of Isle of Man fame for Haxby hot-rod Tony Turner.

His speed thrill is clambering into a machine that looks lighter than a bike and resembles a cartoon creation right out of Wacky Races crossed with a moon buggy favoured by lunar astronauts.

But there’s nothing cartoonish or out of this world about Turner’s attempt at the British Superlite Championship.

In what is his first full season he has assembled a top-notch team tasked with helping the 26-year-old electrician to get to the finishing line first.

All the preparations for his machine, which despite its unlikely frame can reach speeds of up to 125 miles an hour and can zoom from nought to 60mph in a mere three seconds, are done by his step-dad Nick Turner, a trained mechanic.

The driver’s physical condition meanwhile is under the supervision of Jason Higgins, a York Future personal fitness trainer based at the Fitness First gym, Clifton Moor.

And leaving nothing to chance, Turner has also enlisted the sports psychology skills of Rich Cadden, the Acomb-based former Thai Boxing world champion who now runs his own Star performance Mind business.

Said Turner, who works for Nestlé Rowntree: “I’ve got a great team around me.

“If it wasn’t for my step-dad Nick, who attends all the race meetings and gets the car prepared for each race. I would not be racing at all if it wasn’t for him.”

Turner initially attempted the sport in two rounds of last year’s championship. Suitably buoyed by his showing, he decided to mount an all-out assault on the 2011 crown, which comprises nine ten-lap to 12-lap races around various circuits.

In making the competitive switch, Turner also sought out extra know-how to improve his physical and mental conditioning.

Of personal trainer Higgins’ involvement, he added: “He has been brilliant in getting me in shape as the racing is very physically demanding.”

Cadden’s help has given him keener focus and confidence as was evident in his most recent outing.

“Richard has worked me in stressing that rather than be hesitant during a race, I need to be decisive and to go for it. I visualise success more and have now got a far more positive attitude and I am certain that helped me improve five places in the last of the three races in the previous meeting.”

The next round of the Superlite Championship is at Three Sisters in a just under a month’s time and Team Turner would be complete if he could attract a sponsor.

“It is costly getting the car to the various rounds of the British championship and keeping it on track,” he said so any help would be appreciated.

“The championships are covered throughout the season by Sky Television on their Motors TV channel so it is growing in popularity.”

Anyone interested in providing backing for Turner can phone him on 07825 168315.