Karting star Steven Prentice (10) wins another title

Dec 10 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

TOP race team manager Gerard Cox has tipped Hamilton kart starlet Steven Prentice for the top ... but has told him he must grab his chance.

Cox, manager of Project One Racing team, will take on the 10-year-old Silvertonhill lad in April, putting him through the British Super 1 Championships.

Cox has been impressed with Steven’s success so far and hopes he has a bright future.

He said: “Steven has done really well with limited resources and that’s why we want to do something with him and I think he’s just about ready for the British Championships.

“It’s a nice little family-run team they’ve got there and they’ve done well but with the correct amount of money he can do even better – and we’ll try to help.

“Steven has got some ability and I hope he grasps his chance with both hands.”

Meanwhile, mum Amanda Jane Clark (37) spoke of her delight after Steven won the National Karting Federation championship at the first attempt, winning five of the seven heats.

He also finished second in the West of Scotland Kart Club Championships, despite a horror injury at Larkhall in July that saw him taken to hospital wearing a neck brace and on a spinal board.

Amanda is still obviously upset about Steven’s accident, which saw him pitched out of the vehicle as it cartwheeled.

She said: “I was at the race but I didn’t see it – he wouldn’t be allowed back in a kart if I had!”

Fully recovered, Steven has now set his sights on scooping a third West of Scotland Winter Series title.

Steven has won the title twice before and is already doing well in the competition, winning both heats and the final in round one.

Amanda said: “I was ecstatic when Steven won the national title and he’s going for a third Winter Series next year with the second round in January. It’s too early to see if Steven has hopes of going professional but he’s doing really well so we’ll see how it goes.”