AFTER driving superbly to his first ever victory in the Formula Palmer-Audi championship, Tavistock racing driver Jordan Williams had his world turned-up upside down the very next race — literally.

Jordan, 19, from Milton Abbot, had beaten an international field in the first race of the FPA at the Snetterton racing circuit in Norfolk last week but in the second race French driver Maxime Jousse controversially moved into Jordan's path when the British driver was about to overtake him at 155mph — in the collision Jordan's car was flipped airborne and rolled five times, hitting a barrier, and landing on concrete before eventually coming to rest.

Thankfully Jordan was able to walk away from the wreckage and bravely decided to race again the next day in a borrowed car.

Jordan told the Times: 'I've raced karts from the age of eight to 15 and had a few bumps but nothing major; in Formula BMW I had one incident on a dry track when it rained and there was no grip, had an accident and there was damage to the car, but I have never experienced anything like this.

Recalling the crash at Snetterdon he said: 'When I was in the air I was not thinking about what was going to happen but I knew that I was going to get hurt — luckily I didn't and I was able to walk away.'

His accident was compared by racing enthusiasts to one recently when Formula One ace Mark Webber crashed in the European Grand Prix in Valencia and miraculously walked away unharmed.

The winner of the Formula Palmer will receive a guaranteed driver's spot in Formula 2 and a racing scholarship but although the crash has dented his chances Jordan is determined to carry on his racing ambitions.

'This has set me back in the championship. My sole aim when I started this championship was to win but I really want to carry on, despite the crash, and hope for more sponsors to come forward. Jordan appealed for any potential sponsors to contact him via his motor racing website http://www.jordanwilliamsracing.co.uk">www.jordanwilliamsracing.co.uk

The crash has been seen on You-Tube and through the http://www.formulapalmeraudi.co.uk">www.formulapalmeraudi.co.uk website. In the week following the incident it received a phenomenal 27,000 viewings.

His mother, Katherine, felt strongly it was wrong that the French driver who had caused the accident was not sufficiently punished after he was held responsible by race officials for the accident, following video evidence.

Jousse, was officially reprimanded by the FPA judiciary, who decided to give him three penalty points and fine him £500.

Katherine said Jordan would unfairly have to pay more for the cost of his insurance excess alone, when the accident was not even his fault.

She said: 'The punishment did simply not fit the crime and gives the wrong message to the lad who caused the accident. What he did was so dangerous - it's not like a go-kart race, these cars are going at 150mph. It was wrong he was allowed to go on racing and go on to win races, when it was in the official's remit to ban him from the meeting. However, this has knocked Jordan back and especially his chances to win the competition overall. It was a real shame because he had done superbly to win the first race and I think the way he was racing I could see him a winning podium place on all four races on the day.'

Despite the horrendous crash, Jordan's racing spirit remained undaunted and the next day, despite the concerns of his father, Andrew, he borrowed a racing car from a fellow competitor, the Spaniard Ramon Pineiro, and competed in races the next day. However, with the car set up for a lighter man and having to use already used tyres he had to settle well down the order after his initial opening race victory.

'I had no worries about getting back in the car. Dad didn't want me to, especially after he saw the video of my crash, but I just wanted to drive again and give it my all.'