Karting: Lewis Hamilton’s nail-biting world champion-ship winning efforts in Brazil may have attracted a record number of television viewers, but it has also inspired more people than ever to get behind the wheel.

Laura Burchall, who works at Ultimate Karting in Hullavington, says her club has seen a huge increase in people wanting to try and emulate the McLaren driver.

And she feels Hamilton’s win will inspire more than people than ever before to take up the sport, as he is the perfect role model after rising to prominence through the karting ranks.

“The Saturday before the race was one of our busiest events ever,” she said.

“Even on the Sunday, right up until 3pm there were people lining up.

“As long as he’s there flying the flag then it’s going to be an exciting time for the sport in this country.”

Hamilton’s win, which made him the youngest Formula One world champion of all time, has put the spotlight on the karting industry but Burchall says that the interest, and more importantly, the talent has always been there.

In her 16 years in the sport, she has seen many skilled prospects drift away from the sport before their primes due to losing interest in their teenage years or a lack of funding.

She hopes that Hamilton’s win proves that motor racing is no longer exclusively the preserve of the rich.

“When I was growing up Damon Hill was doing well but we’ve never had that David Beckham, icon-like figure until now,” she said.

“It’s hard for families as one competitive race meeting can cost as much as their monthly housekeeping budget.

Sometimes if you look at past drivers in F1 you can see they are there because they are wealthy more than anything.

“Now children are coming in with pictures of Lewis, saying they want to be like him so hopefully the commitment is there and if the sponsors are willing to help then we could really see some drivers progress, male and female.”