A SPORTS star from Blaenau Ffestiniog jetted off to Norway last week as he sets his sights on a new career – as a bobsleigher.

Brian Roberts from Blaenau Ffestiniog, who is paralysed from the waist down following a motorcycle accident over 20 years ago is no stranger to speed, winning trophies and championships in the sport of kart racing for several years, but it was his performance in this year’s Volkswagen Cup Saloon Car Racing Championship that sealed his place in the Great Britain Para Bobsleigh Team.

2018 was his maiden season of saloon car racing and he achieved three podium finishes in his self prepared VW Golf Race Car.

He will be in Lillehammer in Norway for two weeks, which will end with him competing in his first World Cup Bobsleigh Race representing Great Britain.

Brian will be very fortunate to have current Para World Champion Bobsleigh Pilot Corie Mapp alongside him in the team and Corie thinks he will do very well in the sport.

Corrie said: “We have had our eye on Brian ever since he broke the world record on a four wheel downhill mountain bike and when the opportunity came to offer him the seat we were so pleased he could join us.

“We use the sport of karting as training in the off season as both sports require a very similar skillset.

“We firmly believe that Brian has the potential to be a winner in a bobsleigh and we cannot wait to welcome him to Lillehammer and get him properly immersed in the art of piloting a bobsleigh.”

There are three remaining rounds left in this year’s World Cup season. After competing in Lillehammer Brian will travel to Oberhof in Germany for further training and he will compete there on 19 and 20 January.

“This offer came as a complete surprise to me and it is a dream come true for me to be able to compete with the GB squad in the Bobsleigh World Cup Series and in the Bobsleigh World Championship,” said Brian.

“It is a tough and technical sport for you have to be so precise with your lines. A small mistake can make the difference between winning or losing so I will need all my wits about me. Corie has been very supportive of me so far and who better to learn from than the current World Champion?”

Brian has been very fortunate to be offered such an opportunity but the GB para Bobsleigh Team receives no funding virtually so each pilot has to pay his own way. The total cost of this season’s exploits will amount to some £11,000 in all so Brian has no alternative but to try and raise the funds from private and individual sources.

With that in mind, friends have set up a crowdfunding page for him at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/brian-roberts-para-bobsleigh-world-cup-racing-f