SAM Heyes has completed a successful debut season in the Cadet Kart Championship, a nationwide competition.
The 11-year-old from Dukinfield finished 12th from 43 racers in the Honda 200 Cadet class. He would possibly finished higher had he not missed two of the eight race meetings.
And Sam, a pupil at St John’s Primary, finished the season in style winning the B final at Beccles, Suffolk.
“Sam had previously finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth, but he was over the moon to win his first national race,” explained dad Gary.
“He was involved in quite a big crash in race two at Beccles so to go on and win the B final was well earned.”
Sam, who sat in a kart for the first time aged five at Daytona, Manchester, has inherited a love of karts from Gary.
“I raced a long time ago, and Sam has always had an interest in my trophies which is how he became interested,” he said.
Though the Cadet Kart Championship is over, still has further race meetings.
In a meeting at his home Hooton Park track near Ellesmere Port, Sam was third in each of his two heats and fourth in the final. The points picked up puts him fourth in the Indikart Championship.
Next up is the Sprint Series Championship at Teesside.
Looking ahead, Sam does not have ambitions to become a Formula One racer unlike many youngsters. He prefers the British Touring Car Championships.
Gary, wife Sheena and Sam, he admitted, have morphed into a racing family.
He said: “It is something we do for the love of our son and our love of motorsport.
“It is not just the racing as, after practice, all the kids play together. Sam has best mates from all over the country.”
Racing comes at a cost, though, as Gary estimates it will cost £18,000 this year as it is about £1,500 each month to attend three race meetings.
“That is scraping the barrel as, unlike some riders who arrive at tracks by helicopter, Sam does not have new tyres for every meeting, but his talent has come through,” continued Gary, a gas and electrical engineer.
Sam receives sponsorship from Premier Kia, which has dealerships in Rochdale, Oldham and Hyde, and Failsworth firm Cooney Insulations.
He is looking for more financial help and anybody interested can contact Gary 07488 335292.