I started karting from the bottom, going to local club meetings in the van and competing with old equipment. After a year we decided that it was time to move on. I then entered for higher competitions such as British and National championships. Over the next few years I achieved the following: F6 champion, ABkC National open vice Champion, British vice Champion, British Kartmasters GP vice Champion and European Open Champion.

After these results the expectations for 2014 were high and I was ready for the year ahead. I hit the ground running at the start of the year by winning the British open. Later in the year I won the Kartmasters British GP. I then went on to win 7 out of 8 British championship Finals, but was doomed with a mechanical failure which cost me the championship and I was then disappointed to be ranked UK number 2. This did however mean that I still qualified for the World Finals, which was to be held in Valencia, Spain. This event is the biggest event in karting as the drivers can only participate if they qualify from one of 60 Nations. The Final came and the weather conditions were extreme as the rain flooded parts of the circuit. This made the race a bit unpredictable. After a hard fought battle I was crowned World no.2. I now intend for the 2015 season at the age of 15 to leave karting behind me and now race in the junior Ginetta sports car series.

Most memorable sporting achievement to date

The most memorable is probably the 2014 World Finals in Valencia. The weather conditions were severe and the track was quite slippery. I lead most of the race and at times managed to pull out a bit of a lead, but as the race approached the last 2 or 3 laps the weather got extreme and karts were aquaplaning badly. It became so bad that the officials were looking like stopping the race. They didn’t and the race run its course although the last couple of laps became a bit of a lottery, there was a dog fight between 4 of us and I got demoted to second place.

Biggest sporting disappointment to date

Although I do consider that finishing no.2 in the World was a memorable achievement, I am still not sure that failing to become World Champion in my last year of karting whilst being so close, doesn’t double up also as being one of my biggest sporting disappointments.

Most respected sportsperson

I haven’t one specific sportsperson to name

Ritual before sporting competition

Each race is different and requires different preparation, so I do not have a ritual. Should I?

David is supported by the Kent Trust for Youth Sport through a ‘Cornwallis Sporting Excellence for Individuals – Questor Award’ in association with Questor Insurance.