A 10-YEAR-OLD is hoping to win the British Indoor Karting Championships (BIKC) after success in his local final.

Run by Team Sport Indoor Karting, this is the first time the championship has taken place.

One hopeful, Louis Williams-Lee, ended up taking the top spot on the podium as he won his local final in Eastleigh.

Louis started racing when he was just 8, inspired by his dad who works in Motorsport and Lewis Hamilton.

Louis said: “I am so grateful for this opportunity. Lewis Hamilton is shining a light and clearly leading the way for diversity in our sport, as a boy who is mixed race myself I feel this championship gives me the opportunity to show diversity within grassroots sport.

"I want to inspire others to stand proud within our sport & empower them to feel confident in being true to themselves."

He is next due to race in the BIKC regional finals in Farnborough in early December.

TeamSport CEO Dominic Gaynor said: “BIKC is one of the most sought after championships in the racing calendar, it is affordable, accessible and provides winners with both a coveted British Champion title and amazing money-can’t- buy prizes that take grass roots drivers to the next level.

As Lewis Hamilton himself said recently, “racing has become too expensive and is not diverse enough”, it is fantastic seeing talented kids such as Louis getting the opportunity to race competitively.

"To have a chance to win a fully funded season of outdoor competitive racing is something most kids can only dream of and we are so excited to make this dream a reality for the BIKC winners.”