TACKLING obstacles at high speeds, veering around traffic cones and carefully motoring around farm yards in an auto test competition is something 16-year-old Daniel Morris of Brongest near Newcastle Emlyn is excelling at.

He has a passion for rally cars, jalopies, night events, stages and even marshalling to support other competitors.

Daniel, the son of Huw and Helen Morris, is a keen member of the Teifi Valley Motor Club. Together, with his sister Natasha and friends Dan Irving, they regularly compete at auto test competitions and are improving every time out.

"I think my interest started when my dad competed at jalopy racing. I then had a go and we’d compete across the country and as far away as the Yorkshire Dales at weekends. I then grew too tall and got too heavy for the jalopy racing and that’s when my interest in competing in auto test events started,2 explained Daniel who is currently 6ft 1in and still growing!

At the first auto test event in Pembrey in August last year with dad Huw in the navigator seat, the pair finished the first round in 14th position overall, then 10th after the second round and an overwhelming result of fourth position overall and first in class with Daniel being awarded the fastest time for a junior competitor. Last week, they returned to Pembrey in horrendous weather conditions, this time with 22-year-old sister Natasha navigating, and Daniel was presented with the Yahoo Award for the best driver to drift a front wheel drive car.

His other auto test triumphs include a win at Caerphilly, a win at the TVMC summer auto test, a win at Llangybi, a joint first in Dihewyd and was in lead position at Ffarmers until the car broke down. He was also leading in Glogue until the tyre rim came away from the car and this lost him the lead position. In February in Walters Arena he finished third overall and first in class followed by a second overall and first in class at Bont.

Daniel will turn 17 in August and he literally can’t wait to compete at stages, forestry and night events. He is currently building his own car and as Huw explains, his dedication is second to none.

"Daniel spends every spare minute in the garage working on his Puma no matter what time of day or night. He drives heavy machinery and tractors for me when he isn’t attending his welding course in Cardigan, and driving comes naturally to him. He can turn quickly, look over his shoulder easily when reversing and he’s ready to learn. I believe that all these skills he picks up in the workplace help him behind the wheel," explained a proud Huw, who himself is getting back into the rally world and competing successfully in his Peugeot 205 at night events.