BEN HANLEY is on the fast track to achieving his Formula One dream.

But unlike most kids of his age, the 14-year-old Ramsbottom schoolboy is actually living out those fantasies.

He's not in a Marlboro-McLaren or Ferrari yet, but he's well on the way, having started out the same way Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard did - in a go-kart.

Since starting karting at the age of nine, Ben has collected over 72 trophies and is going for the big one now - first place in the British Championships.

It's something Ben has been striving to achieve over the last few years and he is determined to add the crown to his honours.

Currently lying third with two rounds to go, Ben, who drives an 85mph, 100cc kart, is still in with a mathematical chance of taking that British title this year.

"If he doesn't do it this time, that's the one we will be going for next season," said proud mum Julie.

Motor sport has always been on the agenda for Ben. At the age of two he was riding a 50cc Yamaha motor bike and wanted to go on to race bikes a little later.

"We weren't too happy about that, so we took him karting instead," said Julie.

"At first he used an indoor track at Warrington and the market car park in Bury when it was empty on a Sunday. After that he began racing and used a track in Wigan called the Three Sisters."

Ben started racing in 1994 and picked up two novice wins. The following year he finished 21st in the British Cadet Championships and had 10 top three places in club meetings, including five first places. He came second in the Super One British Cadet Championships in 1996 and streaked to victory in the Anglian Championships and British Kart Grand Prix.

In 1997 Ben moved up to Junior TKM and as well as finishing third overall in the junior TKM British championship, he won the Trent Valley Winter Championship and the "O" Plate at Rowrah in Cumbria as well as chalking up another third place at the TKM Festival.

In 1998 Ben moved up to the Junior Intercontinental A class and continued to strive for that British championship crown, spicing things up with trips abroad to Italy, Portugal and Ireland.

Next month Ben, Julie and his Hanley Motorsport team are off to Charlotte in the good old US of A to compete in the North American Championships.

"Karting is very big in Italy. Its a popular sport and its possible to make a living as a go-kart driver there," said Julie.

But the sport is catching up in this country and with Sky Sports covering events, karting is getting more exposure in Britain too.

It's an expensive hobby. Ben's team have three 100cc karts, six engines as well as all the spare parts such as axles, carburrettors and wheels to transport around the country - and abroad.

The Hanley's employ a full-time mechanic, Paul Ibbotson, who looks after the kart at his garage in Sheffield. There is also engine tuner Paul Carr, who has also acted as Ben's manager. All that amounts to a staggering £40,000 a year. "We do have sponsors," added Julie. "Cartwrights, a firm from Altrincham that manufacturers haulage trailers, and our very own TNT here in Ramsbottom."

As well as the cash outgoings, there's also the thrills, and spills, to contend with.

So far, Ben has escaped relatively injury-free. "The karts I drive at the moment are limited speed-wise, but they can still do up to 85mph," said Ben.

"I was in a crash at the Clay Pigeon track in Dorset. Another kart hit me from behind while I was in the pits. I was thrown out of my kart and suffered whiplash injuries to my neck.

"Two days later I was in a bad accident at the same track. A kart in front had spun and I hit some barrels trying to avoid him.

"I flipped over two or three times and was taken to hospital, but, fortunately, it turned out I just had badly bruised ribs." In Italy a kart flew over Ben in another spectacular crash.

Staying on the track, and in the kart, is what really matters. And that's where Ben aims to be as he continues with his bid to make the big time - and Formula One.

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