Motorsport: Oly wants gold from Silverstone

The 27-year-old — who has dominated the season, winning seven of the ten races so far, and finishing second on two other occasions — takes a slender three-point lead into the showdown.

“I’m paying the price for one non-finish this season,” explained Mortimer, who travelled down to the Northamptonshire circuit earlier this week, having taken time off from his full-time job as a mechanic. “That basically cost me 20 points, and because we don’t drop scores I’ve had to make up the gap. But I’ve done it and now I head into the final three races leading the championship.”

But Mortimer, who would like to graduate to the Porsche Carrera Cup next season alongside Kirkcaldy’s Rory Butcher who races for the Celtic Speed team, knows he faces a tough three races.

“I know it’s going to be anything but easy,” he admitted. “It’s really close. There are two or three other guys who could still win the title, but I have to focus totally on what I’m doing.

“It’s only a three-point gap, but I’m not going to change my driving style in any of the races. I’ve been in this situation before, and I know how to handle it.”

Mortimer has, indeed, been in similar situations. The Scot is not only a past multiple Scottish Mini Cooper champ, but he’s a winner of the British Mini Championship.

“In fact, the last time I raced here I was in a Mini,” Mortimer continued. “This time though we’re on the full grand prix circuit, which is fantastic.”

Mortimer — backed by Edinburgh companies IMMS Security Systems and PCS Electrical — has relished the track and the conditions.

In the opening free practice sessions, he posted the fastest time of the day in his Tynecastle Garage-prepared Porsche 911.

“I know the car is quick enough, and I know I’m fast enough,” Mortimer said. “The one unknown is reliability. I have a terrific bunch of guys working on the car. If the car gets to the end, I’m confident I can bring the title back to Scotland.”