AN injured Lochgelly veteran carving a successful career as a motorsport driver, supported by Help for Heroes, is looking for sponsorship to compete in the new race season.

Mike Courts, from Lochgelly, broke his spine in 2011 serving with the Black Watch in Afghanistan and has since endured numerous operations and years of physiotherapy, including having to learn to walk again.

Introduced to motorsport as part of his rehabilitation, the 26-year-old from Lochgelly has risen to become one of Scotland’s rising stars of the Scottish Motor Racing Club circuit and is about to embark on his first full season of racing.

Mike, who has been supported by Help for Heroes and now volunteers for the charity, said: “I have had support from Help for Heroes on so many levels, including funding for my race wear when I first started out in 2013 and to compete in the Scottish BMW Compact Cup in 2014, as well as support to retrain as an offshore inspector and get a good job, although that has since been affected by the downturn in the oil industry.

“Help for Heroes has also helped me by funding other charities, like Combat Stress and Mission Motorsport, who have also supported me.”

Mike is looking for sponsors to help him compete in the 2017 motorsport season – his first race is on April 9, fittingly on Armed Forces Appreciation Day at Knockhill Race Circuit in Fife.

Joining Mike – the only injured veteran currently competing on the Scottish circuit - is fellow Fifer Kenny Watson, from Glenrothes, who was medically discharged last month from the 3rd Battalion the Rifles, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), hearing loss and back injuries after being caught up in two bomb blasts in Afghanistan in 2012.

Kenny – who has also been supported by Help for Heroes in his recovery - has spent the last nine months stripping down and completely rebuilding his Subaru Impreza in preparation for the Super Lap Scotland season at Knockhill Race Circuit when it gets underway next month. He is also joining the Disabled Motorsport Scotland team, a mixture of ex-servicemen and civilians in Scotland’s first all ability team.

It’s a fresh start for the 27-year-old dad-of-one as he prepares to move from Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy with wife Kerry and son Harris and complete his training and final exams for a new job as an engineer with infrastructure company Amey.