BRAINTREE bobsleigh ace Aleasha Kiddle is looking to driving forward her Olympic dreams after receiving a huge boost from Great Britain team bosses.

The 24-year-old former Braintree and District Athletic Club sprinter and Essex 100-metre champion has been representing her country for the last two years as part of the British Bobsleigh Team.

Her natural athletic ability has marked her out as a brakewoman in the two-person sled, however, team managers have handed her a massive vote of confidence by recognising her ability within the sport and handing her a different role.

Following a team trial in October, Kiddle has now been selected for a place on the Accelerated Driver Programme to become a sled driver for Great Britain with the specific aim of qualifying for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea.

She said: "British Bobsleigh have now got the aim to qualify two sleds for the Olympics in 2018, so myself and one other former brakewoman are learning to drive this season in an attempt for one of us to be competitive on the World Cup circuit next season in order to qualify for the Olympics.

"I am very excited for this amazing opportunity as I have wanted to try driving but now I have the full support from the team.

"It was too good an opportunity to miss."

Kiddle's successes as a brakewoman have seen her produce a number of podium finishes in the European and World Cup competitions and, along with driver Mica McNeill, she finished fourth at the Junior World Championships last year, missing out on a medal by just 0.06secs.

The Braintree star demonstrated her progression to team bosses recently by ranking third in the all-time British Bobsleigh testing standings as the team made pre-season preparations, but she is now looking forward to her new role.

Kiddle said she would be heading to Innsbruck in Austria - the location for the British Championships - to start learning to work as a driver, but she knows she will need help to achieve her Olympic dreams.

The extra demands of being a driver involve large initial costs to have the tools and equipment required for the role and Kiddle is hoping sponsors will be able to assist her.

In return for sponsors' help, she said she will be able to have their name and logos on her GB race kit, promote the support she receives on social media and engage in personal appearances and talks.

Anyone interested in assisting Kiddle with sponsorship opportunities can contact her by email at Aleasha1992@msn.com