A PARK View Infant School pupil has become the youngest member of a British Touring Car team.

Five-year-old Ralphie Reeves, of South Ham, has recently put pen to paper signing with the Stilp HARD Academy arm of the touring car group team HARD.

Even at his young age Ralphie has been turning heads on the race track making a name for himself in the karting world.

Having recently finished second overall in the UK Kart Championship at Shenington racing club, competing against six-eight-year-olds, Ralphie has already impressed many in the motorsports world, especially team HARD, with his natural speed and talent.

For the new season the five-year-old has moves up to a new category and will benefit from the additional support the academy can provide as he develops as a driver in the years to come.

Ralphie’s father, Russell, 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.

“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.

“Starting early and achieving so much already is a great taster of what’s to come, and we want him to go all the way with Team HARD.”

Team HARD was established in early 2012 by touring car driver, Tony Gilham.

Since then, the team has grown, to what it is now, a successful race team that manages in excess of 20 drivers, many of whom have won races.

In 2016 in the first year of entering, the team won the prestigious British GT 4 championship and continues to go from strength to strength.

On Ralphie’s signing Mr Gilham said: “Ralphie really stood out for us, not only as the youngest driver signed to the Stilp HARD Academy, but also with the social media following that he and his father Russell are already working on. We’re over the moon to be able to help Ralphie with his journey up the motorsport ladder, building a strong relationship to give him stability later on in his career.”

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