SEVEN women have taken up the challenge to prove their driving skills at the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.

The team answered a plea in The Northern Echo from go-karting experts Bob Pope and Tracy Humphreys for seven women willing to be trained to take part in the international competition.

A trial was held for women interested in being trained to a professional standard and seven were picked by Teesside Karting race director Mr Pope and director Ms Humphreys.

The team includes advertising representative for The Northern Echo, Marie Burley, 28, and Hannah Smithson, 19, of Marske, who works for the learning and skills council.

Some of the team have go-karting experience, but others like Ms Burley, who is a trained mechanic, had never taken part before the race trial and have had just four weeks of training.

She said: "I just thought it would be a laugh and a chance to do something really different. We have only had four weeks to train and we are competing against professional teams of both men and women, but we are confident."

The team will travel to France this week and the race takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

Each woman will drive for 90 minutes and then 60 minutes and finally for 45 minutes until the end of the race.

Teesside Racing Track and Jennings Ford sponsored the team.