TWO local youngsters recently earned their racing stripes with impressive karting results at the Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorchester.

Twelve-year-old Bradley Sheppard and 10-year-old Jenson Watts, who both attend St Michael's Middle School in Colehill, have raised eyebrows at the track where 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button took his first steps in racing.

Sheppard, who competes in the junior max class for 12 to 17-year-olds in the club championship, is the youngest in the category.

Despite being up against more experienced drivers at the most recent round, Sheppard finished second in three heats and the A final, with Matthew Humphries the only driver to get the better of him.

Sheppard's quickest lap time was 35.1 seconds, just two 10ths of a second off the lap record, and he was just four seconds behind his rival in the final reckoning.

The youngster hopes to compete in a guest round of the British Championships later this year.

Meanwhile, Wimborne racer Watts has been turning heads in the cadet class, which caters for drivers between the ages of eight and 13.

The youngster qualified fifth-fastest out of 26 competitors for the A final but matters took a dramatic turn when he was caught up in a first-corner crash that left him facing the wrong way round.

The smash set Watts back to 17th position but a magnificent effort saw the youngster charge through the field and take the lead at the end of the final lap.

He held on for victory and set the fastest lap in the process.

Watts recently signed for the Exeter-based ZIP Southwest karting team and owner Jon Muir said: "Jenson showed great maturity and pure determination. He was unbelievable."

Watts races at two other tracks in the south west – Forest Edge near Andover and Dunkeswell Kart Club near Honiton.