Declan Carter Y8 has been participating in stock car racing since he was 10 years old in a formula known as Junior Micra Rods. The cars are all 1.0L manual Nissan Micras which are completely stripped out, leaving just a driver's seat, a roll cage, harness and other safety equipment. Drivers are between the ages of 10 and 15 with a mixture of girls and boys taking part at varying levels of skill and experience, making for some very close racing. The tracks are oval, so the cars are set up turn right only with tilted and upgraded suspension, but no modifications are allowed to the engines and after the initial start only second gear is used. Contact is not allowed. However, with the number of drivers on track there is always plenty of rubbing, pushing and shoving that happens during racing, making it very exciting to watch! Declan mainly races at Buxton Raceway in Derbyshire, which hosts a range of racing formulas, including banger racing, Formula 1 stock cars, Hot Rods and drifting, but he also occasionally races at Skegness Raceway, who run the same formulas. The drivers compete to win the points' championship plus several other trophies available throughout the season, including the Gold Roof and the Bristish Championship. 

Since he started at 10, Declan has improved each year and is having his best year yet having won several trophies at the last few meetings at both Buxton Raceway and Skegness and achieving a higher-grade roof colour - meaning he starts towards the back of the grid with the quicker drivers. He is also in a good position on the grid for the Gold Roof championship, with the final taking place next month he is hoping to win his first major trophy! His car has remained in good shape so far this year, but he has been involved in some accidents in his racing career - including hitting the fence, spinning with other cars and even a rollover!