COUNTY Durham's karting kid sensation John Stewart is racing to Kent this morning to see if he can make the national team.

The nine-year-old, from Dipton, near Stanley, won his first major race last week at the Cumbria championships.

Today, his father, John, who is also a kart champion, is taking him to the British team qualifiers in Kent.

Mr Stewart, who owns Beamish garage, in Stanley, said his son taking up the sport one year ago has given him a new lease of life.

He said: "He absolutely loves it and he handles the machine well considering the speeds they can reach.

"He's doing it for fun but he's having a fair bit of success at the same time. I'm just worried he's going to start beating me soon."