Matthew Wilmshurst is hoping to follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names.

The 18-year-old from Polegate has made great strides in karting over the last couple of years.

Last year Wilmshurst became the first driver to date to win back-to-back summer and winter Pro-Kart titles at Filching Manor karting track at Jevington, near Eastbourne.

Wilmshurst has big plans for the future and his is fully aware that the likes of Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard started out in karting.

It was the inspiration of the current Formula One stars which first attracted Wilmshurst to racing five years ago.

He explained: "I was watching Formula One on television and thought I wanted to give it a go.

"Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard started out in karting and I wanted to try it. It gives you some hope that people like that started that way."

Wilmshurst was 13 when he first tried karting and he found a great mentor in Karl Ffoulkes-Halberd who owns and runs the Campbell circuit at Filching Manor.

"Karl taught me the ropes. He told me what kind of formula to go in, he taught me racing lines and how to drive.

"The last two seasons has been great. It has all come together."

Now at ECAT College, Wilmshurst finished fourth in the Junior Standard class of the Formula 6 South East Series in 1997.

The following year he moved on to the Junior Royal class in the Formula 6 series and finished an impressive second.

His first overall success was winning the Senior Pro-Kart Summer Series at Filching Manor last year, which was soon following by the winter crown.

Now Wilmshurst is aiming for more success.

He said: "This year my aim is to defend the summer title and I am also doing the Formula 6 South East Series which goes around the South of England.

"I am currently lying third out of 25 in this national championship. Next season I want to go into a faster category of karting, the ECO-MOTO. This involves basically a 250 motorbike engine on a kart chassis and they reach top speeds of 95mph."

Wilmshurst is quick to recognise the help from Ffoulkes-Halberd and now the teenager is helping others himself.

He trains youngsters at Filching Manor, including eight-year-old prospect Piers Newman who is already good enough to compete in the South East Series.

There is also charity work too with Wilmshurst involved in an annual endurance race at Filching Manor to raise money for MacMillan Nurses.

As for the future Wilmshurst, who is grateful for the help of his mechanic Anthony Evans, would like to race on a bigger stage, although he knows money and sponsorship are key elements of success in motorsport.

He said: "I would like to go into single seaters, maybe Formula Ford or Formula Vauxhall.

"What do I like about racing? I think it is the speed more than anything. It is something I have always worked hard for. I have spent a lot of time and money on it and at the end of a meeting it is nice to win a trophy. It makes it all worthwhile."