Clara moves into the fast lane after her recent sporting success

Year 9 pupil Clara admits her friends think she is ‘pretty cool’ as she makes her way in the karting world.

Clara races at Team Sport Trafford on the indoor track and hopes to gain a karting scholarship and join a national karting team.

Clara said: “I used to do radio control car racing, I did that for around five years, and then in February this year I switched to karting and I found I liked racing.

“I like the competitiveness of it.

“There are three categories – Cadets, Juniors and Adults - and I compete in the Juniors, for boys and girls aged 12-15-years-old.

“This year the nationals were at Warrington and I got through the locals and regionals but unfortunately didn’t make it to the final. I was the only girl at the regionals but I don’t mind that. I was quite proud.

“It’s a really good sport. Sometimes there are ramps and, indoors, I tend to go at speeds of 40mph and outdoors it’s 60mph.

“It is an expensive hobby so I would like to get some sponsorship to take me through to the next stage, competing outdoors, and get on a national team.

“I want to do something with racing in the future, whether it’s as an engineer or driver.

“I go to the track in Trafford twice a week and then train on my own at home. My friends think it’s a pretty cool hobby!"