Teenage karter Taylor Barnard has big ambitions – but is happy to focus on the immediate future after a season to remember.

The 13-year-old from Horsford has been karting since the age of seven and won every national competition he entered in 2017 – putting his name firmly into the record books. Now he is now looking forward to 2018.

'I would love to follow in Lewis Hamilton's footsteps and go all the way to Formula One but I'm now focused on next year and continuing to work hard and do the best I can,' he said.

Taylor started his history-making year by winning the ABkC O Plate Festival at Buckmore Park, taking the flag more than four seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

The prestigious Super One racing series is one of the most competitive karting championships in the world, with previous Cadet champions including Hamilton (1995) and Jenson Button (1991). Taylor dominated the series, winning the final in six of the seven race weekends to become the 2017 MSA British Champion. He also won the MSA Kartmasters British Kart Grand Prix in August, an event attended by over 200 drivers from all over the world and held at PFi in Grantham. This event is the annual blue riband event on the UK karting calendar and is the largest one-off kart meeting of the season with drivers challenging for the coveted GP plate. Taylor dominated the weekend, taking the final with ease and making Kartmasters history as the only driver to ever win the title on two occasions, again following in the footsteps of Hamilton who won the Cadet championship in 1996.

That in itself would have been impressive, but Taylor didn't stop there – he also raced in the National Little Green Man series, again in sublime form throughout the season winning seven of the eight race weekends to take the championship title, making series history with the most final victories by any driver.

Mum Amy said: 'We are all so very proud of Taylor's achievements this year, winning both National Championships and also both Karting festivals in such dominant fashion has been amazing. We have to say thank you to Hellesdon High School as they have been brilliant and very supportive of his karting commitments.'