Bosses at Buckmore Park Karting Circuit are ‘delighted and proud’ of Lewis Hamilton’s World Championship victory this weekend.

The Formula One ace's dream came true at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, when he won his first title in dramatic style on the last corner on the last lap of the final race of the season.

Hamilton, 23, is the youngest ever driver to win the world title, but it was close. A last chance overtaking manouevre earning him fifth place in the race but also the vital single championship point.

He has a strong connection with Buckmore Park and spent a lot of time there when he was younger.

He drove karts there before he moved on to Formula One and bosses at the park have memories of him racing around the circuit as early as 1996.

His success this season has led to a huge increase in the number of youngsters taking up the sport at Buckmore

Managing director Bill Sisley said: "We have had a 20 per cent increase in the number of young drivers at the circuit and that is purely due to Hamilton’s success.

~ Audio: Mr Sisley talks to kmfm's Patrick Gearey after Hamilton's title win >>>

"We have also seen a lot more ethnic minority youngsters become interested in the sport and hopefully we are training future champions here at Chatham.

“We are very proud of Lewis and we were nervous all weekend and we were cheering him on all the way.

“We are delighted he has won.”