BEATH High School’s Joshua Nekrews had a sparkling 2018 season behind the wheel.

The 16-year-old produced a series of consistent performances over four race sessions to pip his main challenger, Luke Scharf, for the Scottish Championship Super Karting Series.

Joshua clinched the title at Golspie with an impressive day’s racing.

He said: “It was a really competitive season with highs and lows but I knew going into the last round of races that I had to produce some good racing to get the overall title.”

Racing started in April and the venues have been Banff, Crail and Larkhall, before Golspie.

Added the teenage speedster: “It all went down to the last race which was for double points and I knew that I had to hold off Luke’s challenge, for if I didn’t then there would be no title.

“It was a bit tense out there on the track but everything went well for me and I was so pleased to win the title.”

Joshua admitted that World Champion Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton’s rise from the kart track to being a top Grand Prix exponent inspired him to give karting a go.

He added: “When I was nine I saw how Lewis Hamilton went from the kart circuit to the Formula 1 crown and it made me think, I would like to try that.

“This season has been brilliant but now I will be stepping up to the senior grade next season, which means I will have to continue to improve my performances.”

Joshua was warm in his praise for the help his mum Denise and dad Kenny give him on race days: “They really do brilliantly and I couldn’t manage it without their assistance.”

He is ready to take his foot off the pedal for the winter months but will be ready to start the new season in March, although he will get his prelim exams at Beath out of the road first.