Folkestone’s Elijah Hazelwood, 12, has big ambitions as he makes early impression on the karting scene

A 12-year-old has his sights on becoming Formula 1 world champion one day - and the early impression he’s made on the karting scene shows it could be more than a pipe dream.

Folkestone’s Elijah Hazelwood first got behind a wheel just before the Covid pandemic but it’s really in the last year he has raced and made big strides. He has huge ambitions, too.

“I would like to make it into F1,” he revealed. “I would like to be a champion in whatever racing category I compete in.

“That is my main goal - to be a champion. But my ultimate goal would be to be involved in F1.”

Hazelwood already has been vice-champion and junior driver-of-the-year in Buckmore Park’s professional series, as well as 2023 Club 100 rookie-of-the-year.

He said: “I’ve been trying to catch up with everyone else with where some people have been racing from a lot younger.

“I haven’t been racing long but I’ve tried to race in everything I have been offered and I’m moving into the higher categories each time.”

Racing at speeds of up to 70mph, Hazelwood often comes up against competitors much more experienced but has won in every category he has taken part in.

On what he likes about competing, he explained: “Just the speed you are going, and how close you are battling.

“It’s hard because you make friends with people. But when you are on the track, you’re sort of all enemies!”

Buckmore Park in Chatham will always be a special place for Hazelwood, who said: “It’s a lot of fun there.

“That’s where I started and it’s just a really fun track for me.”

Hazelwood, whose latest campaign is set to get under way in March, moved into the Club 100 Racing events in 2023.

The Year 8 pupil added: “That means going around the country.

“So, I’ve made a lot of good friends. The