FORMULA 1 star Lewis Hamilton famously started his racing career in karting and 11-year-old Josh Smith has shown enough star potential for one of the top Kart Racing Teams in the UK to sign him up.

Josh joins 2010 British champions Fusion Motorsport and team manager, Dan Hazlewood said the team was very excited to have him on board this year.

Josh, from Carr Bank and a pupil of Dallam School, Milnthorpe, has progressed quickly up the ranks this year, competing in both the UK and Europe with great success in his first full season of Cadet Karting.

His ambition is to become No. 1 in the country with the help of his new team and his family.

Without the support of his family and Dallam School,it would be impossible for Josh to further his motorsport career, which has always been his dream.

In January, Josh will attend the NEC Autosport Show, which is the biggest arena for motorsport.

Here, Josh will be presented with the ‘Bernie Ecclestone Driver of the Day’ award he won at the Formula Kart Stars British Championship Round at Gleny-Gors race circuit in North Wales earlier this season.

He will meet F1 impresario, Bernie Ecclestone and receive the coveted award from him at the Stars of the Future award ceremony.

A dream come true day for Josh.

If the end of 2010 is anything to go by, 2011 looks like being a very exciting and busy year in the Smith household.

Since joining Fusion Motorsport in September, Josh has been out almost every weekend travelling the country to race against the best. In the last six race meetings he has achieved three wins and two sixth places He practices and race almost every weekend over the winter to hone his skills ready for the 2011 championships - and with dedication liek that Cumbria could soon have its next motorsport champion.