0:00:16 > 0:00:19ENGINES ROAR
0:00:19 > 0:00:2415-year-old Jake Dennis and 13-year-old Ben Barnicoat share a driving ambition...
0:00:26 > 0:00:30..to become Formula One world champion.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33ENGINE CHANGES DOWN GEARS
0:00:33 > 0:00:34There's only 24 drivers out there,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37so if I make it into that 24 it'd be quite a big achievement.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Motor sport's my life.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40It's the thing I'm best at.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45But if they want to be the next Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48first they must conquer the exhilarating,
0:00:48 > 0:00:52sometimes dangerous,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55world of professional go-karting.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57The amount of dedication that you need is enormous.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I just love the speed and the adrenaline of it.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05This year they're competing for the British, European and World Championships.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Could this be the summer that changes their lives?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12When you're on the track you've just no friends, take them all as prisoners.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25The British excel at motor sports. We've produced more Formula One World Champions than anywhere else.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28And the place they all start out
0:01:28 > 0:01:30is kart racing.
0:01:30 > 0:01:36Good mates Ben and Jake believe they've got what it takes to go all the way too.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39But their roads to glory couldn't be more different.
0:01:39 > 0:01:45While Ben relies on his dad to pay for his racing, Jake has a big-money sponsorship deal.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47I started karting through my dad.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51For my seventh birthday, he bought me a go-kart.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55It was a bit scary, but if it's not really scary it's not really that much fun.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58You're going about 80 mph - 85 mph.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00The adrenaline's going in the blood,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03all the pit girls when you line up on the grid.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06And becoming rich and famous is always a bonus as well.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12I was in Cornwall on holiday and I saw lots of leaflets
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and I saw a go-karting one and took it to my mum and dad.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I went on it about five or six times.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20I just loved it. Then we bought my own proper go-kart,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23a red one cos I wanted it to be red like Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29And it was from there on where I got really obsessed. I was British Open Champion at ten.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And fingers crossed, I'll get to Formula One.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38With around 200 trophies to his name already, Jake's well on his way.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41I won the first round of the under-18 World Championship.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44I've still got all my prize money from it as well.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Then there's this one, the Las Vegas Championship.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49This was one of the biggest things to win,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52plus it's in Las Vegas, a massive bonus.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55And then this one. This is when I came second in the world.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57I got knocked off and came all the way back up to second.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Probably the best race in my life as well.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07Every nook and cranny in this boy racer's home is stacked with silverware.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10So we've sort of run out of room in the house,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12so now we have to put them all in here.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16There's about 20 over there,
0:03:16 > 0:03:1920 over there, and then there's about five down there.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Like Jake, Ben also started karting aged seven,
0:03:24 > 0:03:29but his passion for driving was ignited in a rather surprising way.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Right then, Ben, if you just push the button, please.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36He's at home in the field as he is on the track,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38but only under Dad's watchful eye.
0:03:38 > 0:03:44I was about six when I got this tractor. It's a bit slow, but I still really enjoy driving it.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46He's always been on diggers,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49on tractor, anything he can get his hands on.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Just seems to come natural like with loader or anything.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Two minutes and he's away.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02It's not very hard, it's just clutch and gears and brake and throttle.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04And then I've just taught myself how to do it,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and I picked it up really quickly.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- TANNOY:- 'Welcome everybody to Karting Genk.
0:04:18 > 0:04:24'It's the European Championships here on this lovely sunny afternoon in Belgium.'
0:04:24 > 0:04:26It's early July, and Jake and Ben are in Belgium
0:04:26 > 0:04:33to compete against each other and 90 of the continent's best drivers for the title of European Champion.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37It's the most important event of their summer so far.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41If I have good heats I could probably start about sixth on the grid
0:04:41 > 0:04:44which is easily possible to get a podium and go for the win.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50I'm racing against my main competition, Jake, so it would be really, really good to beat him.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Hopefully I'll win and become European Champion.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56To do that, Ben and Jake must first get through their heats.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00But while Jake, in the red suit, is flying through his heats,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Ben is struggling in his.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Got to win this heat to get into the final,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and it's going to be really hard. I might do it, but the chances are slim.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Dad Paul offers a few words of encouragement.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19So keep your head up. You never know what'll happen,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21we might just bail her out, might just sneak it.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22You can do it.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Ben, in the white helmet and silver kart, weaves through the traffic.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41But with just ten laps remaining,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44overtaking everyone is almost impossible.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48'Good drive by Ben Barnicoat from stone last into the top ten,
0:05:48 > 0:05:49'finishing in ninth place.'
0:05:49 > 0:05:52'I was really fast but I just couldn't do anything
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'cos I was right at the back.'
0:05:54 > 0:05:59I did my best, and I couldn't have done no more.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- You all right, eh?- Good drive.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Oh, well, brilliant drive.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Ben's failed to qualify for the final,
0:06:06 > 0:06:11and his European dream is over almost before it began.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14But his friend and rival Jake has made it through his heats
0:06:14 > 0:06:15and into the semi-final.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22He's well-placed on the inside going into the first corner,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26but with 36 karts all fighting for position, it's a dangerous place to be.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35The pile-up has dumped Jake to the back of the field.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39He's now got just 12 laps to claw his way back.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Where he finishes this race will determine where he starts in the final.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51That didn't exactly go the best.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I got knocked off at the start and that dropped me back to dead last.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I came back through, got to about 13th which wasn't bad,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59but hopefully we'll have better luck this time.
0:06:59 > 0:07:05We should come top five, cos it's going to be quite hard to get a win now, so we'll see how it goes.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08But it's not just Jake's position that's been dented by the crash.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11His kart has also felt the full force of the shunt.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15If something goes wrong in the pre-final it is quite manic,
0:07:15 > 0:07:19cos you don't have very long from the pre-final to the final. So it's quite a mad rush.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24I'll give Brian a quick hand taking this track rod off.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26So Jake's got just 20 minutes to repair his kart,
0:07:26 > 0:07:32hardly the ideal preparation for the European final.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37I normally get focused when I'm on the grid to stay calm.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40And something's gone wrong now, it's quite difficult,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42but all drivers have to do it,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and that's what makes them a good driver, to stay calm.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Jake's made it in the nick of time,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and starts to compose himself for the race.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02'And we are racing!'
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Once again the first corner claims its victims,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09but Jake survives and starts charging through the field.
0:08:11 > 0:08:19'Jake Dennis finding a little bit of form at last, going a lot better in the final, running seventh.'
0:08:20 > 0:08:27He's got just a few remaining laps to keep his ambition of becoming European champion alive.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33'And Pierre Gasly bids to go second and goes second.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36'So the Frenchman goes into second place.'
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Jake's fought his way up to fourth, and he's piling the pressure on the top three.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45'In third place, Harrison Scott. Still under pressure from Jake Dennis.'
0:08:45 > 0:08:50He's battling for a grandstand finish but he's running out of laps.
0:08:51 > 0:08:59'Alexander Albon wins it, Pierre Gasly in second place. And Jake Dennis trying to take third place.'
0:08:59 > 0:09:03He's driven brilliantly, but just missed a place on the podium.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07I'm a bit disappointed, but at least we went forward in the race
0:09:07 > 0:09:11which is probably the main thing, and we had quite a good result at the end of the day.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Coming fourth in Europe isn't too bad.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16But it's not the result he wanted.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18For Jake, every race matters.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Back in the UK, a huge amount of time and money has been invested in his future
0:09:23 > 0:09:28since he was first spotted by his manager, Martin Hines.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30I just thought Jake had got something special.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36He was a bit more aggressive in areas, but exciting, and seemed very determined.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40And I thought well, young Jake is exactly what RSF stands for.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Having worked with Lewis Hamilton, Martin knows a thing or two about talents,
0:09:44 > 0:09:49and has secured hundreds of thousands of pounds of sponsorship for Jake
0:09:49 > 0:09:52with the Racing Steps Foundation.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55People say, "How can you spot someone when he's eight or nine
0:09:55 > 0:09:57"that is going to be a future champion?"
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Like Lewis, or someone. You can.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01There's something about them.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04They only think about winning.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Suddenly they tick all the boxes and you think, "Perhaps we've got a champion here."
0:10:08 > 0:10:11And you think Jake is in that company, do you?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I wouldn't be standing here talking to you if I didn't.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20In the expensive world of motor sport, money is everything,
0:10:20 > 0:10:27so Ben and his parents are hoping that just like Jake, he too will get sponsorship.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It's very difficult because we can't fund Ben as much as we'd like to.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34We just can't afford, you know, to keep buying set of tyres after tyres.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37I'd just love him to get some sponsorship so he can certainly try
0:10:37 > 0:10:39and go abroad a bit more next year.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44We used to go on holiday in caravan. We sold that just to finance things.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46He's got the talent, it's just getting the lucky break.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49I really hope that somebody sees him.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Without the money for practise sessions at the track,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Ben has to find other ways of perfecting his skills.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01We've got quite a big field round the back of our house
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and I use it to have some fun with and pretend I'm racing
0:11:04 > 0:11:06cos I want to be racing, but I can't,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10so I just pretend I'm racing against people in my head and I overtake them
0:11:10 > 0:11:14and sort of practise the things you've learnt and how to get them right.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16They tell me it's good practise but I'm not sure.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19I think they just like to get out and churn the field up.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27He's definitely got a natural talent,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29I know that's a dad talking about his son.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34But at the moment, he's proving it on track without me saying anything really.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41But racing driver Ben doesn't just practice at home in go-karts.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Woo-hoo! Let's go!
0:11:43 > 0:11:46It's against the law for children to drive on public roads,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48but under supervision on Dad's private land,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Ben can perfect precision handling.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53'I learnt to drive when I was quite young.'
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I just sort of taught myself.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Ben would spend all his day and night driving if he could.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02He's absolutely driving mad.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07My mum should be very pleased!
0:12:09 > 0:12:12For Jake, things are a little different.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15With his sponsorship he CAN afford track time,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but with money comes added pressure to perform well.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Right, here we go.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28We have a left-right here. It's quite fast.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34When you're out there you have to stay really calm.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37If you think anybody's better than you, you're weak-minded.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41We have a right and a left here. Quite late braking.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44If you lose concentration, things do start to go wrong.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47I've ended up rolling it two times in my karting career.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51And that's a right. And a flat out left.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54If it worried you that much you'd stop racing,
0:12:54 > 0:12:59but normally you don't think about like, "Am I going to crash and die in this next lap?"
0:12:59 > 0:13:04Karting is the only sport that you're travelling up to 70-80 mph
0:13:04 > 0:13:07with your backside half an inch off the ground.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Take another one.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's like jungle warfare on wheels.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13And that's a lap of shake and bake.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18It's August,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and Jake and Ben are putting the disappointment of the European Championship behind them
0:13:22 > 0:13:26by setting their sights on the British title.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29If I do win this championship it will be a big thing to win.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32This is where Hamilton and Button won their first championships,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35and if I do win it this year it will be a good thing to have on the CV.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39The British Championship is like the premier league of the karting world,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43with around 30 drivers competing for the title.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46'The rivalry through this championship is very high.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48'I've got some competitors who are quite fast'
0:13:48 > 0:13:53and Ben who's very fast, so I'm going to have to push hard and see how it goes.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56But Ben and Jake aren't the only drivers in it to win it.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Hot on their heels hoping for a place on the podium,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02fellow driver 15-year-old Charlie Eastwood.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Two of my main rivals is Jake Dennis and Ben Barnicoat.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09They're first and second in the championship.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13I'll have to do a lot to win it, but I'd like a podium, a top three,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15by the end of the championship.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17The championship is made up of seven rounds,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21each of which scores points for the overall title.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24After a flying start to the season Jake went top of the table,
0:14:24 > 0:14:30but Charlie fought back with victory in round three, and then Ben scored a victory of his own in round five.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35They're closing the gap, but with two rounds left, can they catch Jake?
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I know it's not nice, but I need Jake to have a bad race.
0:14:46 > 0:14:52I think I might just reel him in, but it's going to be very hard to do it.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55I hope I don't fall out with him though cos he's still one of my best friends,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59but when you're on the track it's just no friends, take them all as prisoners.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Today it's round six and Jake's keen to get back to winning ways.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07It's just one of those things.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Sometimes you're off the pace and next weekend you're two tenths faster
0:15:10 > 0:15:13than anyone. Nothing to worry about at the minute.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Fresh from his last victory, Ben's confident.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20I do need another good ride here to try and gain on Jake.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25If I continue on my current form I should be in a good shot for winning the title.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Having been in the top three,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Charlie is also hoping for a good result.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I'd love to win the championship, but there's two rounds left
0:15:33 > 0:15:36'and I need to get as much points as possible,'
0:15:36 > 0:15:41so this weekend I really need to perform to try and stay in the championship.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44But it's Jake who's still top of the league.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49If he wins at this meet he will clinch the championship, and his sponsors have come to watch.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53They're here this weekend, so it's quite a big deal if I do well.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57If I win the races I'm sure they'll be pleased, so I've got to try and do them proud.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02At the start of this round he's qualified on the all-important front row of the grid.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Charlie's third and Ben's fifth.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20At the dangerous first corner, Charlie, kart 36,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22gets a shunt and spins out.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28It's bad luck for him, but Ben's up to third.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Ben has to beat Jake to keep the championship alive...
0:16:44 > 0:16:47..and takes the lead, but Jake's right on his tail.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Jake darts inside...
0:16:51 > 0:16:54..but Ben's not going down without a fight.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01As Ben and Jake battle bumper to bumper...
0:17:02 > 0:17:05..Charlie's pushing hard to catch up.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Up front, Jake sees a gap.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18But Ben bounces back.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Jake patiently waits for a chance.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Charlie's fighting to get back into the race,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34but Ben shows nerves of steel...
0:17:36 > 0:17:40..forcing his way through, and Jake drops to third.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Ben is now in the driving seat,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47but Jake's in no mood to be the passenger.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49He claws back second place...
0:17:50 > 0:17:53..then edges past Ben.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01It's an amazing move, and Jake takes the win from his friend.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Meanwhile Charlie drops back, but comes home a respectable 16th.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Well done, Jake. Shake and bake, man!
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Good race, Jake.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Really good race. Me and Ben had quite a good battle
0:18:18 > 0:18:23and then I just managed to get a kart-length gap all the way to the flag. So a really good win.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25And he's not just won the race.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The victory has also made him British Champion.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33But it's not been such a good day for Charlie.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39I got a good start and was in, I think, second or third,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and then I got hit. I went on to the kerb and spun on the grass.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46So about a lap behind after that.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52It's also a massive disappointment for Ben.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55'First thing he said when he's come off, "Dad, I've let you down."'
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Bull. He's not let nobody down.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01'I can't say how I proud I am of him.'
0:19:01 > 0:19:03The title may have slipped away,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06but Ben's still looking on the bright side.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10This year made a lot of people sort of look at me
0:19:10 > 0:19:15and see how good I am cos I've been pushing Jake all the way, and I'm happy for him if he's won it,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18cos he's got a much bigger budget than what I have.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Hopefully I'll get second in the championships this year,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25then next year I'll be able to go one step better like Jake has.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28His electrifying drive today has also caught the eye
0:19:28 > 0:19:30of a talent scout from Formula One.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37A few interesting people come to watch him, they're a bit interested in him,
0:19:37 > 0:19:43and by end of season maybe we might just get a bit of help, and fingers crossed.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46In second place, Ben Barnicoat.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51And the winner, Jake Dennis.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59That makes him champion, so let's have a round of applause for him.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- Shake and bake! - 'I'm really happy that I've won the British championship.'
0:20:03 > 0:20:08Quite important that I've won it this year cos it's the only year that I've won it, so I'm just happy really.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12While Ben and Charlie will have to wait for the last round of the British championship
0:20:12 > 0:20:16to see where they finish, there's no let-up for Jake.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24The final challenge of his season, the under-18 world championships, is just around the corner.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26To help him perform at the top level,
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Jake's sponsors are sending him to Silverstone race track, but he's not here to put in the laps.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Hi, Jake. All right. Ready for your session today?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39He's heading for the drivers' gym with Formula One trainer Gareth Evans.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41COMPUTER: 'Get ready. Go.'
0:20:45 > 0:20:48What Jake's using at the moment is the Batak reaction board.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52And what it's helping to do it's not only improving his reactions and his coordination,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54but also the peripheral vision of the drivers.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00You might think sitting in a car is easy, but F1 drivers are supremely fit.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05They need strong shoulders and necks to support their heads when cornering...
0:21:06 > 0:21:08We'll do 15 of these.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12..and powerful arms to control the car during those long races.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Can you feel it in your forearms, your hands? Now lower it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Don't let it slip through your fingers.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22ENGINE ROARS
0:21:26 > 0:21:32It's October, and Jake's come to France for the most important race of his life so far.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37The World Championship is the biggest event of the year, and it's based over three rounds.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Today he has to deliver,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42and after good performances in rounds one and two
0:21:42 > 0:21:47earlier in the year, he's now lying joint first, level on points with a Finnish driver, Teemu Suninen.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Suninen's quite a good driver. He's normally always at the front,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54battling for the lead, so we'll just have to see how it goes.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I could crash and get knocked off, or he could crash.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58There's quite a lot of pressure.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04Thanks to the points on the board so far, to become World Champion he doesn't have to win this race,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08he just needs to beat Teemu and cross the line inside the top ten.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11It's quite close in qualifying so it's going to be close in the races as well,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14so we'll just have to see how it goes.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It's the final, and Jake, the youngest driver in the race,
0:22:18 > 0:22:19has qualified on the front row,
0:22:19 > 0:22:24with his Finnish rival in kart number 65 in seventh.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29At the dreaded first corner there's a crash,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32but it's not Jake biting the dust, it's Suninen.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35At the start, my main rival, he spun off, which was a big relief.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39As I saw him off the track, I was pretty much one of the happiest men on earth.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42With his nearest rival out of the race,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Jake must now drive tactically.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48He still needs a top ten finish, so he can't afford any mistakes.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51For a few laps he's comfortable in sixth,
0:22:51 > 0:22:55but then the conditions take a turn for the worse.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58The rain coming down quite heavily, the kart was sliding quite badly.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It brought a lot of pressure towards the last three laps.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08Playing it safe, Jake lets two karts past, dropping him to eighth.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13It was very nerve-racking. My legs were shaking with three laps to go.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16"I'm going to be World Champion in three laps if I stay on the track."
0:23:18 > 0:23:21All he has to do now is hold himself together.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28As we're going over the line I was celebrating, punching the air and everything, absolutely crazy.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32But as I got halfway round the lap I was like, "Oh, no, have I won?"
0:23:32 > 0:23:36We worked the points out and I had won, so it was a big relief.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39It was one of the hardest races, but the most enjoyable.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Incredibly, the least experienced driver in the race,
0:23:42 > 0:23:4715-year-old Jake from Leicestershire, has conquered the world.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Well, winning the British Championship was amazing as well.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I thought nothing could get close to it, but winning them both, really,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57British and World Champion, amazing really.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Jake's not the only one whose summer's ending on a high.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09There's also been a turnaround in Ben's fortunes. A few days ago,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13dad Paul received a phone call that could change Ben's life.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19We've had some fantastic news. We've had a phone call from McLaren,
0:24:19 > 0:24:27wanting to put him on the young drivers' training scheme which is absolutely fantastic for us.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30He couldn't want no more opportunity than that.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33McLaren is the Formula One team who spotted Lewis Hamilton
0:24:33 > 0:24:38when he was racing karts aged 13 and took him all the way to world champion,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41and now they've spotted Ben.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44I couldn't believe it. I was like, "Wow."
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Whilst I was there in the gym Lewis Hamilton was there
0:24:47 > 0:24:52and I got a hat signed by him so it was really cool, yeah.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55The head of youth development at McLaren is Indy Lall.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58We try to look out for young talent,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02and certainly Ben this year has more than expressed himself,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and amazingly, on an absolute tiny budget,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10and if we can guide him more, I think he's got a fantastic future ahead of him.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Being backed by McLaren is the big break Ben's been waiting for.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18There's no money yet, but there is a commitment to his future.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21It's not as if all the pressure's off my shoulders now.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24I've still got to work hard cos if I don't they'll drop me.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28And Ben's future starts here.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It's the final round of the British Championship.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34He wants to secure second place today and perform well for McLaren.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41Charlie's here too, and he's keen to put the disappointment of the last race behind him.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43'In terms of the championship, third is still possible'
0:25:43 > 0:25:51but it's very hard, but hopefully I'll be able to get on to the podium for the end of the year.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53I just want to end the season on a high.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57With the race about to begin, Jake has come along to support his friends.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Ben's on pole, Charlie's on row three.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Round the first bend, Ben powers ahead.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12He's doing a good job. We'll be all right.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Charlie's tussling for fifth.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19But out in front, Ben's pulling away and keeps the pedal to the metal.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Go on, Ben.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33He's led from the start...
0:26:35 > 0:26:38..and now he takes the win.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Yes! Yes, he's done it.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49Charlie crosses the line in sixth, giving him fifth place overall in the championship.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Yeah. Pretty pleased.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56It's the best result that I've had in the British Championship, so yeah, it's pretty good.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Meanwhile, Ben's victory means second place in the championship,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02his best season ever.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07If you go back to a year ago, I wouldn't have had a clue that I was going to be signed up by McLaren,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10'cos it's like one of the biggest teams in the world.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13'I don't know what to think, I'm just so happy.'
0:27:13 > 0:27:16And it's been a summer to remember for Jake too.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18'This year has been my best season by far,'
0:27:18 > 0:27:23winning the British Championship and then going on to winning the World Championship.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25There's not much more you could ask for in karting.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30To make it to Formula One you have to do this, and I want to be in Formula One.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34- ANNOUNCER:- And the winner of the third final, Ben Barnicoat.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Next year, Jake will be turning 16 and stepping up to the seniors,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44so the two friends will have to put their rivalry on hold, for now.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46All right, I've had a good year.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Ben's been a good competitor all year. Really enjoyed racing against him,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54and I'll miss him next season. You're meant to say something good about me.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Well, Jake, he's OK.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59He's an all right driver, you know.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01BOTH: Shake and bake!
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
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