Gary Viney works hard to help other people have a good time, now he is trying to have some fun himself.

Viney, estate agent, restaurateur, party planner and nightclub owner can now add part-time racing driver to his resume.

The 37-year-old Brighton businessman made his debut in the John Cooper Challenge MINI racing series at Donington Park last weekend and the early signs are encouraging.

After finishing fifth in his first race, Viney was running third in the second before confusion over a marshal's flag saw him drop back to eventually finish eighth.

Just like everything else he does in his life, Viney wants to make his latest venture a success.

He said: "I am hoping to do well. I want to be up there at the sharp end of things.

"I hope to be challenging for a podium place each time. Yes, it is fun but I am doing it for competition as well.

"I was disappointed when I was running third to only finish eighth."

The combination of hard work, determination and fun has stood Viney well in life so far.

From running his own estate agents, Bentleys, he ended up buying what is now The Gap Club in Western Road, Hove.

After staging a number of successful hen party evenings at the club he set up his own company, Hen Heaven, three and a half years ago and last year that was followed by the Stag Company.

Two months ago he took over running Peers restaurant, just off Western Road, which has links with The Gap Club, and he also now has hand in a printing company.

His long-harboured racing ambition has been on the backburner for a while due to the high cost of most racing series and the time needed to dedicate to it.

Viney explained: "I have always been interested in racing but it has been down to money. Everything I have done has been off my own back.

"I haven't been able to race before because any money we have made has gone back into the businesses.

"But I have been go-karting and to track days, have done well and wondered whether I could do it for real.

"I spoke to a friend, David Phillips, who said I should give it a go and this year I decided to do it.

"The John Cooper Challenge is a lower cost series. It isn't about who has the most amount of money because everybody is competing on equal terms."

The John Cooper Challenge is now in its fourth season and its profile has grown rapidly.

Developed by Mike Cooper at John Cooper Works in East Preston, the championship offers exciting bumper-to-bumper racing and this year is running for first time alongside the prestigious British GT and British F3 Championships.

Such has been the success of the series, it has now been taken to Germany, Belgium and Bahrain.

Viney, who carries No. 46 on his car in homage to Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi, competes as a novice in a team with the experienced Phillips, from Ditchling, Jonathan Shepherd and his son David.

The two-race opener at Donington Park has certainly whetted his appetite for the season ahead.

He said: "It is very exciting. I was really pleased with fifth in the first race. In the second I was third when I saw a yellow flag. The guy in front of me slowed down, so I did too but then three cars went past us. Even though I didn't get the result I wanted it was a great race."