BUCKMORE Park is revving up to breed a new generation of drivers under an ambitious plan to create a national network of kart circuits.

Co-owners John Surtees, the former world champion, and Bill Sisley aim to buy four more circuits and position Buckmore at the front of the grid in British karting.

Talks are advanced for the purchase of their first circuit. They want to build a group of five circuits within five years.

Buckmore Park Kart Circuit, at Chatham, generates around £2m a year. Most comes from corporate clients who invite guests and staff to a day of thrills and spills.

Mr Sisley, who helped the young Johnny Herbert, now honorary president of Buckmore Park, and Jenson Button on the road to Formula 1, estimates the combined turnover of the enlarged group will be around £10m.

"We're looking for other venues," he said. "The vision is to have a centre of excellence here in Chatham and to have a stable of kart circuits in this country based on this format."

Only 10 of the UK's 30 circuits are what Mr Sisley describes as "decent”. Circuits in north London, Birmingham and Manchester are on his shopping list.

Mr Sisley added: "I'm not looking to rule the world, I'm looking to have a quality product which we can control. We are actively involved in negotiation at the moment for the right one."

The involvement of Surtees, still the only man to win a world championship on both two and four wheels, has kickstarted Mr Sisley's plans.

The property developer's 50 per cent stake has helped pay for a new £1.25m clubhouse and £350,000 paddock. A technical centre is on the cards if the Government and business fund the project.

Sisley, 50, and Surtees, 69, are racing against time to leave an indelible legacy to British karting and young drivers, creating what they see as an essential step towards finding a new Nigel Mansell or James Hunt.

They believe the UK needs a training structure for young drivers and karting is the place to start.

Mr Sisley says that it costs too much for most people to take up motor sport. His own son Tom, a Formula Three driver, needs £400,000 a year to compete and has turned to Japan for financial support.

It cost millions of pounds to reach F1 and only "one in a generation" made it.

"It's criminal that only a very small percentage of the best drivers ever have a chance to do anything more than karting."

He added: "We need a proper structure and proper funding. Then we'd get better drivers, more deserving drivers and would stand a better chance of winning grands prix."

"When I really want something badly enough, I'll normally find a way of getting it, and I want this badly. I feel I will then leave something for everyone's benefit."