A COLCHESTER youngster to hoping he could be the next Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen after winning a prestigious international karting race.

Albi-Jay Stubbs, eight, flew to Dubai with his family to compete in the Dubai O Plate Karting Championship competition.

The Langham Primary School pupil first sat in a go-kart in October 2022 and after receiving his very own kart for Christmas in the same year, he hasn’t looked back.

He practices nationally but the main tracks he races at are Buckmore in Chatham, Rye House in Hoddesdon and Bayford Meadows in Sittingbourne.

Gazette: Delighted- Albi-Jay pictured in DisneylandDelighted- Albi-Jay pictured in Disneyland (Image: Jodie Sillett)

At the weekend championship, sponsored by Rotax Racing, Albi put his all into the race and came away in first position.

The annual big weekend sees talented drivers from around the world competing at the renowned Dubai Kartdrome circuit.

His family watched proudly from the paddock with tears in their eyes as he zoomed around the track.

His mother, Jodie Sillett, said: “In 2023 he started his racing career and competed in both club rounds and national rounds.

Gazette: Winner- Albi-Jay with the Dubai O Plate trophyWinner- Albi-Jay with the Dubai O Plate trophy (Image: Jodie Sillet)

“He won the Bayford Meadows Summer championship, Camberley 2023 championship and had multiple individual wins and other great results throughout the year.

“As he is eight years old, he now has to move up into the next category, so we decided to make his final race a big one and travelled all the way to Dubai for the O Plate Championship.

“We didn’t know what to expect but Albi gave it his all from the minute he got to the track.

“He had a super two-day practice on Thursday and Friday after adjusting to the four-hour time difference, then Saturday was race day.

“He qualified first and then had a clean sweep winning all three heats and getting the lap record at the Dubai Kartdrome meaning he secured the O Plate Championship. An incredible achievement for such a young age and to of only been racing for a year.

“As a family, we are ever so proud, there wasn’t a dry eye in the paddock. We have high hopes for Albi, he puts his all into everything and his hard work really shows.”