Former Felsted School student Thomas Fleming wins Ferrari World Championship in Tuscany

Thomas Fleming saw off more experienced rivals to win the Ferrari World Championship in his first season of competitive racing.

The former Felsted School student, 21, claimed the title at the prestige car maker’s Mugello circuit in Tuscany, Italy.

Fleming, who only graduated from karting a year ago, entered the UK competition of the Ferrari Trofeo Pirelli driving a modified Ferrari road car and won the national crown.

That earned him a place on the starting grid for the Ferrari Finali Mondiali (World Finals) alongside drivers who had won their respective series in Europe, North America and Japan, many of whom had been racing for several years.

Fleming, who attended Felsted School between 2014 and 2021, achieved super pole in qualifying despite very wet conditions.

The final itself was a hugely intense affair featuring several collisions, all of which required the safety car.

But Fleming, who drives for HR Owen-FF Corse, held onto his lead to be crowned champion.

‘The race was extremely stressful with four restarts, but I knew that as long as I could come

out of the first corner in the lead I would hold on to the victory,” said Fleming, who is combining competing in European motor racing with studying for a degree in business and entrepreneurship.

“It’s an incredible feeling that words can’t describe to be world champion with no prior experience ahead of this championship. The progression by myself and the team is nothing short of phenomenal.”