Twin brothers who got bitten by the motorsport bug at the same go-karting track as Lewis Hamilton want to be the first twins to compete at one of the world's toughest races, Le Mans.

Ed and Chris Bridle, both 22 and from Maidstone, are approaching the end of their second season racing with Idola Motorsport in the Praga Cup.

The pair share the grid with ex-Top Gear Stig, Ben Collins - who they trail in the drivers' standing by just six points - and last year The Grand Tour’s Abby Eaton also competed.

The competition is open to professional and amateur drivers who compete across six weekends, with 12 endurance races altogether, between March to October.

Their cars reach speeds of up to 170mph and can experience up to 3G of force through the corners.

The racing brothers, from Linton Hill, have come a long way since their first experience of go-karting at age eight, but are hoping one day to be the first team of twins to compete at Le Mans’ famous 24-hour endurance race.

The pair got their passion for speed when they attended a friend’s birthday party at Buckmore Park and have been hooked ever since.

Chris said: “After going to the party we basically forced our dad to take us more often as we enjoyed it so much and so we started going once every two months or so.

“Eventually we started racing karts more professionally and our attendance at the track turned more to three weekends a month.

“I always enjoyed motorsport and watching Lewis Hamilton growing up so getting the chance to follow a similar path was unmissable.”

They gave up other passions to follow this path, both being avid cricketers for Linton Park CC when they were younger.

The hobby was also a sacrifice financially, with some contenders forking out six-digit figures just to race.

But the brothers were hooked and continued to feed their addiction for karting until they were 16, when they advanced their passion, racing cars in the VW Fun Cup Endurance Championship – a competition in which they honed their car driving skills.

Since 2021 the two have been racing for Czech Republic car company Praga in the one-car make series – an opportunity that fell to them completely by accident.

Ed said: "My brother just got to chatting one day with someone who owns the cars and he asked us if we would like to do a test day.

“We turned up and it went really well so they asked if we would race for them."

They are now midway through their second season after finishing fourth in the first year.

This time round they are 7th, but just 40 points off the top with 140 still available.

Earlier this year, at Snetterton, they got on the podium after finishing third.

The competition is a tight one with all racers finishing within just one second of one another, on average, and the winner receives a brand new car from Praga.

There are 15 teams in the competition and races last between one to two hours, with each driver taking turns being at the wheel for half of the race.

But Chris and Ed’s roles do not end with the chequered flag, as during the off-season the two are busy testing, promoting, and gaining sponsors for the upcoming year – sponsorship values for each season can be as much as £120,000.

Ed said: "It is essentially a full-time job. You have to commit to a full year finding sponsorships to pay for it then, seven weekends of the year, from the Thursday until the Monday, you're away.

"It's a huge commitment but their passion for the sport is what makes it all worthwhile."

Ed said: "It's addictive. You're in a team of people and it’s massive but once we get in the car it's just me and my brother trying to be as fast as we can."

Chris said: “The buzz from racing is incredible.

“It’s hard to explain and you don’t get it while racing as you’re concentrating but once you’re out of the car the adrenaline just hits you.”

And unlike any other racing partners, the two have that extra family element bringing out more competition between them to push each other to be as fast as possible.

Ed added: "If you ask me who is the fastest it's me, if you ask Chris it's Chris.

“We are very competitive between ourselves but we're still a team and very close to each other.

"If you race with a normal partner, you will obviously gain some sort of connection to them but because my partner is my brother it's even better as we are not afraid to tell each other what's on our minds."

Motorsport is very risky, with their target of the Le Mans Grand Prix being one of the most dangerous races, but the two have never once thought about quitting.

Chris said: “I haven’t thought twice about it I love it.

“Mum gets a bit nervous when she sees us race but she does also enjoy watching us.

“My dad as well is a huge fan of motorsport so they both give us their full support.”

Outside racing the two still follow their love of cars and motorsport.

Ed spends his working hours working for his own business as a racing coach, teaching a variety of different people how to drive on a track and to hone their skills.

"We just want to keep racing with each other, we're enjoying it and we want to do everyone proud..."

Chris works in marketing and sales for JF Automotive and specialise in engine tuning.

Both of their jobs allow them to take the time needed to follow their passion, but the Bridle twins hope to one day make a living off their racing.

They said: "For both of us we just hope to make a professional career out of our passion.

"We wish to get a factory contract meaning if we drive for a manufacturer they fund us to do that."

For now, though the racing duo are hoping to take what started as a chance hobby to new heights.

To race in Le Mans you would either be asked by a team or apply for one of their vacant seats.

Each team has three drivers and so prospective racers can apply to be one of them highlighting the budget they would bring to the table.

Ed said: "When I look back to my first-day karting I would have never expected to do what I'm doing now.

"Hundreds of kids go to national championships and never get to car racing so we've just been really lucky that things have fallen into place and have strong support from our family, friends, and team.

"We just want to keep racing with each other, we're enjoying it and we want to do everyone proud."