UPCOMING motor-racing driver Franky Cheng, 17, has turned to Yorkshire-based Harrogate Tutorial College to improve his English and his education, as he races towards Formula One stardom.

Beijing-born Cheng, who is hotly tipped to become China's first ever Formula One driver, has travelled the world this year competing in the 2002 Asian Formula Challenge, in which he is currently unbeaten in six of 14 races.

Later this year he will travel to South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines to compete in the competition, but will return to the UK in the autumn to start his 'A'-Level courses at the College.

Budget permitting, it is hoped that Cheng will be able to race in the UK in this year's Formula Renault Winter Series, -mula Renault Championship.

He said: "I am very excited about the prospect of racing in the UK again, particularly at Brands Hatch. Hopefully, my English will be even better by then."

With his China homeland poised to stage its first Formula One race in 2004, Cheng could be much in demand from sponsors anxious to break in to the vast Chinese market.

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, July 27, 2002