Tony Bates is the epitome of the gentleman racer, a highly successful entrepreneur whose preferred recreational pursuit is driving fast race cars. These days he drives an Audi R8 GT3 car but his beginnings are far more humble.

Here’s the story of how Tony went from “smashing into everything bar the ambulance” during his 2002 racing debut to winning the Carrera Cup TAG Heuer Challenge national title in 2016.