A 13-YEAR-old has been crowned 2024 junior banger world champion.

Last Saturday, teenage sensation Nathan Joyce beat 34 drivers, aged 12 to 16, to take the title.

The title race was held at Ringwood Raceway on Saturday and went ahead in inclement conditions.

Nathan has participated in banger racing since he was ten and has progressed rapidly over the years, becoming the yellow tops champion in 2023 and blue tops champion in 2024.

Over the last year, he had to win various races over the country to be able to qualify for the world final race.

Nathan’s mother, Maria, spoke to the Daily Echo on her son’s success, she said: “I was so proud of him, it was so exciting; I was jumping up and down screaming.

(Image: Maria Harrison) “He beat a lot of people that were older than him, which he was very pleased about.”

With the harsh weather conditions during storm Bert on Saturday, there were three red flag stoppages due to pile ups and rollovers.

Maria said: “It was terrifying to watch in those conditions, I’ve watched him since he was ten years old, but it was both scary and exciting.

“His dad has done banger racing with him since he was a kid, so it means so much to him and it’s nice for them to spend time together.

“They are part of the same team named ‘Posh Wash’, and it was the first world title for their team which is fantastic.

“Nathan’s brother, Lewis has also started to show an interest in banger racing so it’s a family thing now.

“The plan for Nathan in the next year is to travel around different tracks in the country.

“Whenever someone asks him what he wants to do, he says he wants to race.”