WEEKLY commutes between the historic city of Worcester, and the stunning scenery of Milan, Italy, might seem a little arduous - especially if you are preparing to sit your all-important GCSEs.

But for one King's School pupil, who dreams of becoming a Formula One racer, it is a sacrifice he must make.

James Thorp is being tipped as the next Lewis Hamilton and is making impressive tracks in the world of go-kart racing.

In November last year he signed a prestigious contract to race for Maranello Kart following a successful 2007 season when he came third in the junior KF3 European Championships.

But he is having to fit his racing in around his school work - studying for 10 GCSEs.

"It is difficult trying to do both but I manage," said the 15-year-old. "The school has been very supportive and prepares work for me to take away with me, so I do revision on the plane or at the hotel. It's hectic but worth it."

James started karting at the age of 10 when his father, who used to race touring cars, took him to watch a race. "I just loved it and knew that it was what I wanted to do," he said. "So I started racing at club level in Banbury and it just went from there. I started to win races and progressed to national championships, then on to European championships and then world. Last year I came third in the European championships at KF3 level, which was the highest competition in the category.

"And that's when I was approached by Maranello, asking if I would join their team. I was really pleased. It was such a fantastic feeling to sign for them, with all the opportunities that come with it."

Almost all Formula One drivers, including Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and more recently Lewis Hamilton, began their racing careers at karting level, and James is hoping to follow in their footsteps.

"People often say that I will be the next Lewis Hamilton, which is a real honour," he said.

"I would love to be as successful as he is. I think I can achieve it if I work hard enough. People say I have the potential. It is my dream is to become a Forumula One driver."

James, who lives at The Lenches, near Evesham, with parents Sam and Brian Thorp and 18-year-old sister Kirsty, travels to Italy three times a month either to compete or test karts for Maranello.

"I love karting, its such good fun and really exhilarating," he said. "The karts can reach 95-100mph which can be pretty scary, but gets the adrenaline pumping."

James admits to having crashed a number of times, and with little protection at those sorts of speeds it is surprising to hear he has never seriously injured himself.

"You do crash from time to time, but you learn from it," he said. Over the coming weeks James will compete for the Andrea Margutti Trophy. "If you win a race then you get prize money, but I don't get paid for racing," James said.

"Prize money can be up to £2,000 and whenever I have won I have put the money back in to my karting, for new helmets, gloves or other equipment. I have won quite a few competitions. My mum and dad have been fantastic in supporting me both financially and emotionally and I couldn't do it without them."

Once James has completed his GCSEs he is hoping to stay on at King's to complete four A levels, in business, chemistry, French and Italian.

"I don't know about university," he said. "I am hoping after A levels to concentrate full time on racing.

"This will be my last year karting, as I would like to move in to single-seat car racing and eventually Formula One. I don't know what else I would like to do if I was not racing. I haven't thought about another career. Racing is all I have wanted to do."

James said any spare time he gets he likes to spend with friends, although with his new racing contract and GCSEs on the horizon, there is little time for anything else.