Newly crowned SpeedSport Scholarship winner James Webb began his car racing career with two race wins at the first round of the Manfeild Winter Series.

A former kart racer, the Feilding teenager started his circuit racing career just six days after becoming the 13th annual scholarship winner.

Webb took pole position for the Formula First cars, went on to victory in the first two races and finished in second place in the final race.

“The rookie drivers had everything thrown at them in the first race,” said Scholarship co-founder Dennis Martin.

“It was the first time James had done a standing start for a race. Then there was a Safety Car intervention and he had do his first rolling re-start while leading the race. On top of that he had to cope with wet and dry track conditions. James did a fantastic job and the team is delighted to have such a good start to his year with us,” said Martin.

It was almost a clean sweep for Webb, but he made a slight mistake on the final lap of the last race and took the chequered flag in second place.

Webb, 15, has won a year-long racing program with Martin’s Sabre Motorsport team, competing in the low-key Winter Series as a build-up for the New Zealand championship season which starts in October.

The SpeedSport Scholarship is New Zealand’s most successful young driver development program and Webb will receive both on-track and off-track tuition and guidance. He has also won a customised racing suit, race boots and gloves courtesy of Chicane, and a new racing helmet from Arai as part of a $50,000 prize package.