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Meet the next Lewis Hamilton
Teen go-karting whizz Paul Hardy is flying high after winning his first national race – on his birthday.
Paul celebrated his 13th birthday in style by whizzing round the Lydd International track in Kent at speeds of up to 80mph and managed to bag himself first place in rounds seven and eight of Motor TV's National Challenge.
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The Sunderland High School pupil has been karting for two years and has worked hard with dad Derek and brother Steven at the Warden Law go-karting circuit in Sunderland to build up his speed and skill.
He said: "I'm so chuffed, I've been practising two or three times a week and going to competitions across the country. I've only had 10 weekends off this year."
And as Paul was celebrating his win, TV cameras from Motor TV captured the moment, which will be aired to millions of viewers across Europe next month.
"It was a bit difficult because I got straight off the track and they shoved the microphone in my face and I was trying to think of something good to say," he said.
"It's going to me amazing to be on TV though, I'm really looking forward to it."
Paul now hopes to win round nine of the competition at Hooton Park in Cheshire in October and is also setting his sights on other competitions such as the Northern Karting Federation Championship at Wombwell near Barnsley.
He said: "Eventually, I want to be a racing driver so the next step is Formula 3 or Formula BMW. I would like to be like Lewis Hamilton."
Dad Derek, of Cranborne, East Herrington, has driven Paul all over the country from Devon to Cumbria so that he can compete in competitions.
Together with Paul's brother Steven, 20, who is a mechanic, their teamwork proved a winning formula this weekend.
Derek, who was British Open Rally Driving champion in 1983, said: "I'm really proud of him – he was competing against some 16-year-olds and achieving an average speed of 65mph, so he really has done very well. It was a great birthday present."
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
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