JENSON Button might be the baby of motor racing, but one York youngster seems to be after that crown.

Ross Winteringham, from Murton, has beaten youngsters up to five years his senior to win the Tockwith Motor Club Cormer Cadet karting championship in only his first year of competition.

Furthermore, Ross (pictured above) is only seven years old.

The Cormer Cadet karts championship, for under-12s only, sees races take place at Tockwith once a month. Like in Formula One, the driver with the most points at the end of the series takes the title.

And Ross, a pupil at Badger Hill Primary School, saw off competitors from all over the region to finish first.

"He's one of the youngest drivers involved," said proud mum Joan. "His trophy is nearly as big as he is."

Ross does have the advantage, however, of having a karting-mad mechanic for a dad, Pip, who looks after his kart and fits it to Ross' requirements.

Joan added: "Ross got into it through his dad, and he's always been interested in it."

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, March 05, 2002