YOUNG Trowbridge speedster Guy Cunnington hopes to step things up a gear next season as he aims to make his mark in the country’s top karting championship.

The 12-year-old spent last weekend testing with the BRK (British Kart Racing) team at Whilton Mill, in Northamptonshire, with a view to racing for them in the ABkC (Association of British kart clubs) Honda Cadet National Championship in 2015.

The Honda Cadet class, for youngsters aged 8-13, is one of the many youth series that make up the British Karting Championship, known as Super One, which has seen the likes of David Coulthard, Jenson Button and new world champion Lewis Hamilton graduate to Formula One.

Cunnington, a pupil at John of Gaunt School, has enjoyed a glittering year on the track, winning the Southern Championship, as well as the Forest Edge and Clay Pigeon club championships, and dad Marcus thinks that his son is ready to step up to national level.

“We did a few British Championship races last year but that was dipping our toe. We didn’t know the tracks or anything like that,” he said.

“BRK won the championship last year and Guy did really well with them at testing. He was clocking in some good times.

“We’ve pretty much put pen to paper and our aim is to try and get him qualified as a seeded rider, which means finishing inside the top ten – I think he can do it 100 per cent.

“The Honda Cadet class runs until the year of your 13th birthday, so we’ve got all of next year before he moves up to the next class.

“I’ve raced karts, bikes and single-seater vehicles and even been involved in Formula One. Eventually, once the little ’un was born, it was his turn.”

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