A SCHOOLBOY who took up karting during lockdown after his football sessions were cancelled has been crowned a British champion.

Rivenn Welsh won the British Indoor Karting Championship ­— at the age of just 12.

The St James' CE High School pupil took up the sport just over a year ago during the coronavirus lockdown when his football training sessions were cancelled.

And his achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact Rivenn, who lives in Over Hulton, does not own his own kart, like some of those he was racing against.

Some of his competitors had been karting a lot longer than he has been,

Rivenn said: "I took up the sport because I enjoy going fast so low to the ground.

"I got into the sport in lockdown because football was on/off, went to one or two parties and my cousin was doing it quiet a bit."

He added: "I was amazed, shocked, thrilled tired, fortunate as there was some very good kids racing too, some who raced for teams outdoors."

He added: "My ambition is to win lots of championships, and race hopefully one day in Formula 1

"I enjoy the thrill of going faster than others, winning when there is such fine margin."

Rivenn's outstanding performance has won him a seat in outdoor karting Daniel Ricciardo Series.

And this is where Rivenn wants to progress to but he needs to have his own kart.

For indoor karting, competitors pay to hire a kart, but for outdoor racing, they need to have their own.

The ambitious youngster is hoping to win sponsorship to help him progress through the sport, which has a huge following and is filmed.

The championship was live streamed on YouTube.

Anyone who can help with Rivenn with sponsorship and gain some publicity in return should ring 0772894756.