YOUNG karting ace James Thorp looks set to take the motor racing world by storm after clinching the Midland Championship.

And it means the Rous Lench teenager will be following in the footsteps of former winners Ralph Firman and Johnny Herbert.

The 13-year-old Kings' School pupil beat more than 30 other karters on his way to victory at the tough Little Rissington circuit in Gloucestershire.

Thorp took the honours in the Junior TKM class for drivers aged from 13 to 16 having only made the step up from Cadet racing in March.

And the teenager admitted he had been happy with a place up among the leaders before the race began.

"I wasn't sure what to expect," he said. "I wanted to get into the top five but was really pleased to have won. I must also thank my mechanic Mansell Smith who helped me win the event."

Thorp took up the sport four years ago and now hopes to step up to the super-fast JICA karts that can reach speeds of 95mph rather than the 65mph he was racing at to take the title.

"I went to Belgium to test one of the JICA karts and, after a few laps, was clocking the same times as the driver leading their championship," he added.