Cullingworth’s Jack Hawksworth will race for Florida-based Team Pelfrey in the United States for the 2012 season ater wowing them in testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Off the back of finishing a superb fourth in his rookie car racing campaign in the fiercely-contested Formula Renault UK Championship, Hawksworth is eager to steer his fledgling career in a new direction.

“I began thinking casually about going to America back during my karting days,” he explained, “and we started considering it more seriously midway through this year.

“A fresh start is what I’ve been needing, and it’s possible to forge a real career path over there, which is a major attraction.”

In his high-tech, 260bhp single-seater – capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in a 2.8 seconds – Hawksworth hit speeds approaching 160mph around Indy’s fabled oval banking.

If it was a job audition, then it was one that he passed with flying colours – and barely a week later, the deal was done.