Just two years in the world of karting has made a massive impact on Jack Lead’s life.

The 17-year-old from Hawkinge, near Folkestone, won this year’s Junior Pro Summer lightweight group Karting Championship at Buckmore Park in Chatham.

But Jack’s mum, Nicola, and her husband, Patrick, have also seen how taking up the sport has helped Jack - who has autism - develop his social skills, too.

On Jack’s championship victory, Nicola said: “He’s absolutely blown away by it. He still can’t get over it.

“Jack’s about to go to the Winter Championship now.

“The Winter Championship only consists of four rounds before he goes on and hits the adult leagues. He has got a sponsorship deal through my husband’s work.

“He does a practice round once a month and then does a round once a month.

“The Summer Championship that he has just won has been over eight months - March through to October.”

Jack collected 771 points altogether - which saw him end on a score of 611, with his two lowest-scoring rounds not counting to his overall score. That left him clear of second-placed Oliver Liversedge (571 points) and Benjamin Hamilton, who was third on 565 points.

The championships have also allowed Jack to expand his friendship circle, as well as enjoy success behind the wheel.

“He’s made some amazing friends,” Nicola added. “Jack has such a great attitude towards it.

“Jack will always get out of the kart at the end and fist bump or start a conversation with someone. That can be someone he has been majorly up against but he just wants to talk it through.

“He’ll say ‘Well done, you took that corner really well’ and he has such a great attitude to it. He’s made so many friends through this in the last couple of years.

“It really is his social outlet as well. It’s really good for him. With his autism, it’s really been incredible.

“It’s all come together for Jack.”

Patrick added: “Jack gets quite anxious in most social settings, including school and college. So he’s masked his autism when he has been there.

“But karting has really brought his social skills on. It’s where he is really comfortable.

“He studies karting on YouTube and has studied the track intensively.

“He has got a driving rig for his Xbox and I think that’s helped him as well.”

Jack will soon head into adult karting. Such is his commitment and passion for the sport, he has landed a job at Lydd Kart Circuit.

“He’s looking at going into something called Club 73 where they do tour some of the other circuits,” explained Patrick. “So he’ll be testing himself a bit further.

“I think he’s a bit anxious about going too far afield. But he has driven at Lydd.

“He actually works part-time at Lydd as a marshal. We’re trying to get him into the world of work.

“We found a job down there for him and, because it’s his passion, Jack had the confidence to go and do it.”

Their journey is just shy of an 80-mile round trip to Buckmore Park, which recently held a racing party to mark its 60th birthday. But that’s a journey Jack’s family are only too happy to do regularly.

Nicola said: “We do have quite a trek up to Buckmore Park. It’s about 40 minutes - but it’s worth it.

“It’s what Jack lives for.”

Jack, who has his own Instagram racing page, is sponsored by Canterbury’s ADM Computing.