AN INFANT school pupil has overcome family adversity to make a name for himself in the world of motorsports.

Ralphie Reeves, four, is forging a trail in the world of go-karting, where he is currently competing against 11-year-olds on a regular basis.

His love of go-karting when his father Russell took him to the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed when he was just one-year-old and since then, Ralphie has been obsessed with cars and racing.

Mr Reeve bought his son his first petrol go-kart at the age of three.

However, Mr Reeves was made redundant last year when City SEAT and City Skoda, then based in Houndmills, went into administration. Mr Reeves had to sell Ralphie’s kart to make ends meet.

Fortunately, after finding a new job in December, the father was able to buy Ralphie a new, modern kart with a better engine.

Mr Reeves said: “As a father I am so proud of my son and what a natural he is, he really took to it without much coaching and continues to improve each time we are out.”

This year, Ralphie has started going to Angmering Raceway, in West Sussex, where he practices on a Saturday and races on a Sunday against eleven- year-olds.

So far, he has enjoyed a lot of success usually coming first, second or third in races and has amassed a lot of support.

More recently, he has started racing at the Shenington Kart Series in Banbury where competition is more fierce but Ralphie is continuing to impress, joining a new team.

Russell added: “He really is a little star in the making and is drawing some serious interest and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him, I will be with him every step of the way.

“It still makes me laugh that he can't ride a bike without stabilisers but can race a kart at speeds close to 40mph! Last outing he reached 38mph down the main straight!”

Ralphie has just finished his first year at Park View Infant School and has a busy summer ahead training at Shenington for the next round of the Shenington series on August 5 and 6.

To find out more about Ralphie's exploits, go to facebook.com/Ralphiereeves14.