A LIFE of glamour in the world of Formula One racing could be beckoning for a master of the humble kart.

Professional karter Tristram Oman has qualified for the World Karting Championships next year which could be a ticket to Formula One. The 20-year-old now also plans to move into Formula Four car racing in the coming months.

But, as a new survey revealed that more men would rather be racing drivers than footballers, the Wearside driver is keen to point out that life isn't all easy in the fast lane.

"The man who won the World Championships at Puerto Rico last year spent £150,000. That's a lot of money and means a lot of sponsorship," said Mr Oman, whose father, Lindsey Oman, is a kitchen manufacturer in South Shields. "We didn't spend anything like that, partly because we now run a shop selling top karting equipment which raises money and enables us to get equipment more cheaply. It has become our life and we live and breathe it."

The shop, near Ryhope, Sunderland has karts which travel at up to 90mph.