The 12-year-old met his racing idol when he collected a top go-karting award.

The Southmoor School pupil is one of the top 15 go-karters in the country after competing in Britain's premier Super 1 British Junior Karting Championships, in which Lewis Hamilton once competed.

On Saturday he was presented with a special plate at Birmingham National Exhibition Centre, signed by Formula One champion David Coulthard.

Proud mum Vicky, 34, of Hollycarrside, Sunderland, said: "It was really good, Connor had a great time. It was brilliant and there was a big party on the night time."

Connor started go-karting when he was four. He started racing competitively at eight and has many medals and trophies.

The Super 1 championship saw him race all over the country for 12 months.

It is the first time he has taken part in the junior championships.

His dad, David, 35, who also has a daughter India, 11, said: "I bought him a kart last Christmas when he'd just turned 11 and I took him out in it.

"After eight weeks of being in it we decided to chuck him straight into the British championship.

"At 11, Connor was racing against kids aged up to 17 and he managed to come 15th in the whole country."

The next Super 1 season starts again in March and Connor is looking to compete in the prestigious competition again.

He would love to pursue a career in car racing and follow in the footsteps of Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.