Move over Lewis Hamilton, there’s a new boy racer in town (and he’s just 4)
HE can’t read or write yet, but little Ronnie Ray Carter can t take a hairpin at 40mph w without flinching.
The fearless four-year- old, who s started go-karting aged three, is believed to be Britain’s youngest racing driver. And he’s already making a name for himself as one of Europe’s best after lifting his first trophy in Spain last month.
His father, Dale Carter, 34, who is
a former rally driver himself, said: ‘ He’s incredibly talented. He wakes up every morning and asks if he’s going racing.’
Ronnie first sat in a go-kart on his third birthday after his father bought him a £1,500, 50cc kart as a present. He modified it so it could only reach 10mph and set up an obstacle course using wheelie bins in the street outside their home in Runcorn, Cheshire. Ronnie quickly graduated to driving around an abandoned industrial site before signing up to the Manchester and Buxton Kart Club.
Soon after that, he was picked to compete in the Bambino Kart Club Championships – the league of the UK’s best young racing drivers – a year early. Last season he finished in 9th place and won the tournament’s outstanding achievement award.
His proud father said: ‘He drives in excess of 40mph. He’s the youngest racing driver in the country by far.’
Ronnie has already won more than 20 trophies and was crowned the 2019 Spanish Winter Cup champion in his first European competition last month. His ambition is to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Lewis Hamilton, and become Formula One world champion one day.
Mr Carter admitted the youngster’s mother, Sharon Farrington, 34, gets nervous when their son races and that he has already spent £15,000 on his carting hobby. But the electrician said it will be worth it if Ronnie makes it to the top.
He said: ‘He is racing against children two years older than him now on a full-size track. I think he is good enough to go all the way towards F1, or some sort of professional racing.
‘As he gets older he is developing a competitive edge. It means more to him than just taking part now. He wants to win.’