Boy, 11, chases British karting championship title
Deno fell in love with the sport aged four, and is now competing in the Motorsport UK championship.
11-year-old Deno is hoping to become a professional racing driver [Josh East Photography] An 11-year-old boy is competing at the highest level of motorsport karting in the UK in a bid to one day become a professional racing driver. Deno, from Somerset, said he fell in love with the "adrenaline" of the sport aged four, working his way up from indoor children's sessions to national competitions. This year, he will compete for the title of British cadet champion in Motorsport UK's Championship, which culminates at Silverstone in September.
The aspiring driver said he dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, who followed the same path. Deno came second at the UK Kart Series for drivers aged eight to 13 [Josh East Photography] From gruelling early starts, missed school days and the cost of equipment, entering the world of motorsport is a major commitment for the whole family. But Chris, Deno's father and mechanic, said he saw the potential in his son early on.
"When you're in a car it feels like nothing around you actually matters and it's just you and the car," Deno explained. "The vibrations of the kart and going that quick - it's the adrenaline. You just gain a love for it.
" Deno said he is determined to work in motorsport, whether as a professional driver, a race marshal or mechanic [Josh East Photography] Deno now spends between four and eight hours at the track a week, and practices circuits on a racing simulator at home. Races can last up to 15 minutes and controlling a kart travelling at more than 60mph (96. 5 km/h) can be physically demanding.