ELECTRIC land speed record holder, Nick Ponting could be on the verge of securing a funded motorsport drive after being selected as a finalist in a prestigious competition.

British exhaust manufacturer Milltek Sport ran a competition open to all UK race licence holders during the Autosport International Show at Brimingham NEC earlier last month.

More than 200 proven racing drivers applied which, with the help of BTCC star Tom Onslow Cole has been whittled down to a mere 8 competitors.

Ponting,22, said: "To be selected out of all the entrants is unbelievable. Milltek Sport is a very well known and a great brand for me to potentially represent in my 2014 season."

Ponting will now be preparing for the secret test this month, where he hopes to impress the judges enough to become Milltek Sport's ambassador and driver in 2014 in the VW Cup.

He added: "To have already been recognised by Milltek, against some of the top drivers in the UK and to be in the final eight is an achievement I am proud of, but the obvious aim is to top it off by winning and sitting on the grid at Oulton Park in April."

The car which Ponting will be piloting is a highly power Volkswagen with 420bhp and weighing just 1200kg.

To follow nick's progress visit www.nick-ponting.com or tweet him @nickponting.