A YOUNG racer got to see first hand what his future could look like when he was invited to the opening round of the British Touring Car Championship earlier this month.

Five-year-old Ralphie Reeves was the guest of his touring car group team HARD at the event held at Brands Hatch race circuit on April 7 and 8.

The Park View Infant School student, who become the youngest member of the British Touring Car team earlier this year, got to see behind the scenes as to what makes the team click on race days.

Ralphie’s father, Russell, said: “He was in his element going around looking at what everyone was doing.

“There were a couple of times where I could tell he just really wanted to get involved.

“Being the youngest member, he has become a little bit of a mini-celebrity as everyone was saying hello to him in the pit, which I don’t think he was expecting at all.

“For me it was surreal as well as I remember being the other side of the fence looking into the pit and here I am with my son seeing the guys at team HARD at work.”

It is this experience, along with the five-year-old’s own race successes, which has acted as further fuel for him to achieve his dream of making it in the world of motor racing.

Russell told The Gazette that the HARD Academy gives his son all the tools he needs to one day compete in the touring car contest.

He added: “He is absolutely car mad. If you put an action figure in his hand he will swap it for a toy car and when I come home he is always asking me can we go out karting.

“He just has a talent for it so it is no wonder people are excited about what he can do at just five-years-old.”

This year Ralphie is competing on a national level in the Bambino Kart Club Championship against racers older than him.

Even though this is his first year Russell said this does not stop him getting competitive.

To keep up with Ralpie, go to facebook.com/RalphieReevesRacing14.