Salford's five-year-old karting whizz kid pushing his ambition to the Max

He's already got a racing name.

And aged four he was quick off the grid to earn a reputation too.

His hero is Formula 1 Champion, Max Verstappen, and Salford’s Max Joy is aiming to be the fastest five-year-old in town.

Max, who only started school at St. Joseph’s Primary in Ordsall last September, is aiming to finish first in three major kart racing championships this year.

Proud dad Thomas said it all started from watching Formula 1 racing on television.

“Max enjoyed the races and quickly decided Max Verstappen was his favourite as they share the same name,” said Thomas.

“Max asked how F1 drivers get so fast, and I explained that many started at four or five in go-kart racing. 

"We watched videos of Lewis Hamilton at a young age and Max said he wanted to try karting. He test drove a kart, got hooked and started racing aged four.

“He came seventh overall in the national Bambino Kart Championship (BKC) for five- to 13-year-olds, racing against children aged six to eight and reaching speeds of 45 miles per hour. Former BKC winners now race professionally.”

Max who races under number 33 which is also Max Verstappen’s race number will compete in The BKC, the Hooton Park IndiKart Championship and the UK Independent Kart Series which will take him all over England this year.

Thomas, 30, said: "He is a lunatic. 

"But if you want to be the best in racing I think you have to have a screw loose. His hero is Max Verstappen, but in my book he has a few too many crashes.

"My Max has had loads of bumps, but mainly its spinning in circles and just landing on the grass.

"Those he races against are bigger and stronger, but he is getting there. This week in a session at a racing track in Ellesmere Port Max clocked up his fastest