Ronnie Deacon, from Shoreham, came 10th in the British Indoor Karting Championships (BIKC) finals in Warrington last year. He was the youngest competitor in his category, having been allowed to enter the 13-16 age section a year early.
And he has even bigger plans for this year. He is taking part in the Club 100 junior championships for outdoor kart racing as well as the BIKC championships again, where he hopes to place even higher.
Ronnie’s ultimate goal is to secure a full sponsorship deal and compete at the highest levels of karting in the UK and beyond. His dream is to follow in the footsteps of drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, who also began their careers in karting.
Ronnie, who is in year eight at Shoreham Academy, said: “I always do my homework really early so I can go go-karting without worrying.
"I really enjoy racing and I hope to win more nationals this year. A lot of my friends want to get into it now they’ve seen me doing it.”
Sussex World wrote about Ronnie last year when he had been in the go-karting world for just a year and had come 8th in his first season competing in the cadet level at the BIKC championships.
Ronnie started in the sport two years ago, after attending a go-karting birthday party in Lancing. He wasn’t sure he wanted to take part, but his mum convinced him to give it a try.
Another parent saw him behind the wheel and asked if Ronnie raced for a club because he was so good, and it led to him signing up to a club.
As well as all the racing events, since then Ronnie has also bought his own kart, has gained three sponsors and has grown his social media following to 1,300. And his video of the finals of the national championships was viewed 100,000.
His dad, Rich Deacon, said: “It is nerve-wracking watching him race, my heart-rate goes really high, but equally it’s also really exciting. We’re just so proud of all the progress he’s made.
"We’re committed to doing this for Ron so we can see where he can go with it.”
Last year, Ronnie won the Daniel Ricciardo Series race, run by the former F1 driver, and his prize was a signed helmet. He plans to compete again this year.
Rich said a lot of Ronnie’s success wouldn’t be possible without his sponsors James Ross Jewellers, Vulcan Electrical Services and Sussex Waste Management.
For more information about Ronnie, or to sponsor him, you can visit his website https://ronniedeacon.com/
5. Ronnie Deacon
Ronnie Deacon, 12, from Shoreham, has been crowned one of the top 10 go-karters in the country Photo: Rich Deacon