A TEENAGE karting ace who has cut his teeth training on the same Larkhall track once used by world champion Lewis Hamilton, Dario Franchitti and David Coulthard is celebrating his biggest success.

And Lewis Gilbert (13) from Dalry eventually hopes to carve out a career in motor sport.

The teenager, who took up the sport aged nine and won the Scottish Cadet Championship two years ago, recently won his first British title.

He clinched the Super One British Championship - Rotax Mini Max by 20 points.

The event was run over seven rounds at different tracks throughout the UK, with the final round held PF International in Lincolnshire.

He also finished an impressive fifth position in the BNL (Belgium and France) Rotax Junior, which saw him in a learning year, running in the older class alongside the Mini Max.

This saw him racing against boys who are older and more experienced, in preparation for 2018. He didn't race at every meeting so the championship was never in his sights. It was his first time racing in Europe.

Lewis, whose hero was late great rally driver Colin McCrae, has also been in the Rotax Euro Challenge (Belgium, France, Germany and Italy) - Rotax Junior event.

With one round still to go in (Italy), he is sitting ninth in the championship, hoping to compete for the title next year.

Lewis has been racing from the age of nine and his mum Jennifer hopes he can go on to greater things.

She said: "For next year, we want to try and do a full European Championship. There are three different types of engines to choose from - Rotax, X30 and OK, our hope is for a full Europan Rotax and hopefully a European Championship.

"For his age group in mini Max he is quickest in the UK. In junior he has raced against 17-year-olds, fourth or fifth quickest in the UK in terms of pace. In Europe he in the Junior top four or five and qualifying in pole position."

Jennifer says the Larkhall track was a great place for him to hone his skills.

She added: "That is where he learned his craft. Myself and my husband Douglas are on the committee of the West of Scotland Kart Club. It is a good track and is difficult to get to grips with. It's smaller than some tracks but an extension is being developed to it. I would say it's a good way to get going."

Karting takes up most of Lewis' spare time.

Added Jennifer: "He races through the busy season three out of four weekends from March through to the end of September and in the winter we practise as much as possible. There is a Winter Cup event held in Lincolnshire from December through to March.

"His schools Garnock Community Campus and previously Dalry Primary as both have been very supportive of his time out of school. But he manages to juggle sport and schoolwork very well."

Last year he won an award for Outstanding Achievement Across the Curriculum. He tries to keep up to date with his homework

But what were his long term ambitions?

Jennifer added: "He would like to have a career in motor sport, whether it be driving, coaching or running his own team. As far as Formula 1 goes he is realistic that it would cost a lot of money. He is part of a team based down south, Persistence Motorsport. Formula 4 is something he could maybe do. He lives for the sport and really enjoys it."

The youngster is also hoping to secure some sponsorship.

Jennifer added: "We fund everything ourselves, mainly travel costs and also tyres, as you can go through three or four sets every weekend. He would appreciate any support. We have also been at a few Grand Prix and numerous rallies, including the British Rally and the Sardinian Rally."

Anyone who can help towards sponsorship should contact Jennifer Gilbert on 07939 610543.