A BUDDING young racing driver from Epping has caught the eye of the Williams Formula 1 team after a string of victories in Spain.

Ayrton Simmons, aged eight, has just been crowned the under-tens cadet champion in Madrid and is becoming to be a well-known talent on the go-karting circuit.

In the UK children can only race from age eight upwards, but different regulations in Spain have allowed Ayrton to race there since the age of six.

His family moved to the sunny capital city three years ago, but proud dad Steven still lives in Woodland Road, Epping, during the week so he can carry on his job as a London Underground engineer.

He flies back home to his family every weekend.

He said: “My son's always had a mad interest in racing. He'll cry if he can't get out on the track every Saturday.

“It's amazing what he's achieved already. His standard is already above other children his age in the UK because he's been able to race since a younger age.

“And he's very mature too – once there was a case when he only had to finish second to win a championship. He was winning the race, but he could see the guy behind him desperately trying to get past – so he just let him past so that they both ended up being winners.

"He came up to me afterwards and thought I'd be cross with him over it – but I was so proud.”

Ayrton's skills have attracted the attention of many in the industry. He's received good luck cards from British champ Lewis Hamilton, and the Williams F1 team recently invited him to come and watch one of the practice sessions for their new car in Spain.

Mr Simmons said his family, which includes his wife and two other sons aged six and ten months, hoped to return to live in Epping when Ayrton gets older, which would allow him to compete in English championships.