FREDDIE Hunt, son of 1976 Formula One World Champion James Hunt, has appointed Southampton motorsport specialist legal firm Grid Law to represent him as he embarks on a career in motor racing.

Freddie is contesting this year's British Formula Ford championship, the 30th anniversary of his father being the reigning Formula One World Champion in a Ford powered McLaren.

David Walker of Grid Law has been helping to negotiate Freddie's contracts and said: "Freddie is going about his career in absolutely the right way. He understands that what he does off the track is just as important as what he does on it. Grid Law's role is to advise Freddie on all of the contracts that he enters into, for example with his team and with sponsors. We will also help protect the "Freddie Hunt" brand as it develops to ensure that he and his sponsors can obtain maximum value from it but we will also be able to clamp down on anyone who tries to take an unfair advantage of it."

Freddie made his public racing debut in the championship at Donington Park last month but before turning a wheel his father's fame has generated considerable media interest, which is being used to find sponsorship to fund his racing.

Today, approximately half of the current grid of Formula One drivers competed in Formula Ford but over the years the junior racing category has seen many illustrious names including Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and the most successful Formula One driver ever, Michael Schumacher.