Chequered flag for Alex flag for Alex (From Penarth Times)

Chequered flag for Alex flag for Alex

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Alex Everitt is racing his way to karting success!

The St Cyres Comprehensive School pupil is already a club champion after just one year of racing with the Llandow Kart Club - and he is aiming even higher in 2005.

The Llandow Race Academy graduate endured a rookie season filled with emotional highs and lows, although he still came away as the Junior ProKart champion.

The title didn't come without heartbreak, as a snapped chain robbed him of a win in the final race.

Thankfully a consistent year meant the youngster, who lives in Barry Island, was still able to take the title over Porthcawl-based driver Sophie Williams.

"As soon as I heard the chain go I was really annoyed," said Alex, who claimed seven podium finishes during the season.

"But then I remembered the championship and I was pretty excited."

A fan of racing and rallying for as long as he can remember, Alex and dad Steve spent more than 20 weekends and many days during school holidays trying to come to grips with Alex's twin-engine, Honda-powered kart, which is capable of speeds approaching 60mph.

"It's been a huge learning curve," said Steve. "But it's definitely brought us closer together."

A match race between father and son proved dad's own driving talent, although Alex wasn't convinced.