Karting ace takes his love of speed to the Max

Max Bird, an 11-year-old West Sussex schoolboy with a passion for speed, is leading the cadet kart championship for eight to 13-year-olds at the Forest Edge circuit in Hampshire.

He is also third in the championship at the Whilton Mill circuit near Daventry and fourth at Shenington circuit near Banbury.

Racing takes place outdoors throughout the year on tracks of approximately 1,100m in length, under the rules and watchful eye of the Motor Sports Association.

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The karts all have similar power and use a single make of tyre, which makes the racing close, exciting and highly competitive.

Bird started racing aged eight and a year later he took part in his first national-level race in which he finished 36th out of 42 drivers, but this was followed up shortly after by a 25th place and then a 19th.

In 2011 he decided to concentrate on racing at club level and he has achieved a number of race wins and podium positions together with fastest laps to get to the championship positions he is now in.

Next year he hopes for a full season racing at a national level in the either Super One or Formula Kart Stars championships that have already produced British Formula 1 world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in addition to a number of top-level racing drivers.

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Bird, who lives in Chidham and attends Great Ballard School, spends most weekends racing with help from his father Tim, who prepares the kart and runs it on race days.

The step up to national level racing is significant in terms of both the time and cost involved. Races take place at circuits all round the country.

To run competitively at this level Bird needs to join a professional racing team which in most cases has to be paid for and needs to have the best engines and equipment in order to succeed.

He is searching for local companies to support him in his quest to reach the highest level in British Cadet Karting.

Anyone interested can email [email protected] or call 07850 218010.

You can follow Max’s progress at www.maxbird.co.uk as he strives to take the steps to build a career in motorsport.