Teenager Kiern Jewiss has been tipped to become Formula 1 world champion.

That’s the dream for the 13-year-old from Harrietsham whose record in karting stands up to Lewis Hamilton’s by the same age.

Both were British Cadet champions aged 10 and Kartmasters Grand Prix winners a year later.

Hamilton claimed the British Junior Yamaha title aged 12 and, just past his 13th birthday, Jewiss leads the way in the equivalent British Championship.

Jewiss, who is also second in the European Championship, has more than 170 trophies at home.

The Swadelands pupil is signed to ex-Formula 1 star Mark Blundell’s management company, MB Partners, which he co-owns with businessman Theo Paphitis.

And the former McLaren and Ligier driver is convinced Jewiss has what it takes to follow two-time world champion Hamilton into F1.

Blundell said: “We have been monitoring the continuing success of Kiern as he began to take the karting world by storm. It was an easy decision for us to sign him up.

“He is a phenomenal talent with an amazingly wise head on young shoulders and an attitude that belies his years.

“Already he is attracting interest in the commercial world and I firmly believe he has the ability and desire to fulfil his ambition of becoming the next British Formula 1 world champion.”

Read the full story in Friday's Kent Messenger