A Lincolnshire teenager is hoping to be just like his hero Ayrton Senna and be one of the top racers in the country. Lucas Nanneti, from Ruskington, near Sleaford, has been racing since he was seven years old and is now set to compete against other car racers who were racing before he was born.

The 16-year-old will race in his Smart car at the Britcar Championships, which start at the Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northamptonshire, this weekend. The St George’s Academy student said he is aiming to be a professional in the future.

Nannetti in his car

Lucas Nanneti: “I would love to get to the 24 hour Le Mans in France. It is an endurance race and you share the stint with others.

“It lasts 24 hours. You do three and a half hours each and it is an amateur, intermediate and professional driver who take part.

“I aim to a be a professional . I want to stay in Britcar championships for another couple of years but then I would like to go into Endurance Championships.

“It would be a pleasure to be given a ranking in the top 10 or top three – that would be fantastic in my eyes and the eyes of my family.”

He added there are several people that he aspires to be like.

Lucas Nanneti: “Ayrton Senna was fantastic. He was an all round great driver.

“Another hero is the British driver Jason Plato. He knew how to drive and if there was something wrong with the car he could fix it.

“One of my goals is to be like them.”

Lucas said he first got into car racing when his dad bought him a Bambino kart for his Christmas present. He said: “My dad bought me a little Bambino kart for Christmas and started doing sessions with that.

“Dad then bought a kart engine and I did club meetings with Trent Valley Kart Club.”

After progressing through different cars Lucas was bought a Citroen Saxo and after he turned 14 he was racing it at the Silverstone racetrack, followed by another race at Brandshatch.

He said: “I am racing against a guy who is the British GP champion and he has been racing longer than I am old.

“The age range in the race is fantastic. There is also an 83-year-old taking part in the race.”

The student’s dad, Jeff, who bought his first kart, said he is incredibly proud of his son.

“We are really pleased with his progress.

lincolnshirelive.co.uk