A PRUDHOE karter is competing in the British championships.

Fourteen-year-old Ethan Head is racing at the Wera British Karting Championship O-plate at Whilton Mill in Northampton.

It comes after the Prudhoe Community High School pupil was ranked 24th in the country in the Ultimate Karting championships.

"He's in the biggest race he's ever been in in his life; it's the superstars of all the drivers", explained dad, Michael. "He's putting himself against the best, drivers who have done this a lot longer than him, and he's drawn from their driving skills and abilities and put it to his own, and it can only bring him along.

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"It's a really good grounding, it's great for his confidence, fantastic for his fitness, and opened his eyes to a lot of things. As long as he's happy and safe, that's the main thing.

"Being told to go for this, in his world, as a 14-year-old, is the ultimate pat on the back for him. He lives and breathes it.

"He works so hard on and off the track, it's a nice reminder that hard work, dedication and a love for something does pay off.

"I couldn't be any prouder if I tried; he's a local lad doing well and the community is just as proud and excited for him."

Ethan, who was named North East Ikr Champion in 2021, races under Hunter Motorsport and is coached by an ex-European number 2 and British champion Rhys Hunter - team principal and ex-Irish champion, who scouted him.

Hexham Courant: Ethan first took to the indoor, rental karting track in September 2017 with his dad and a friend, before quickly progressing to an academy and then settling at his home track of  Warden law in Houghton Le Spring.

He now races against karters he once admired on Youtube.

His proud dad previously told the Courant: "He's the quietest, gentlest soul known to man off the track and then he's a different person altogether on the track.

"He's so grateful, he's so polite, so humble. But I wouldn't want to race him."