Racing career

Karting

Hamilton began karting in 1993 at the age of eight, and quickly began winning races and championships. When he was nine, he approached McLaren F1 team boss Ron Dennis and told him, "I'm going to race for you one day... I'm going to race for McLaren". From the Cadet ranks (1993-7), he progressed though the Junior Yamaha (1998) and Junior Intercontinental A (1999) divisions, earning him attention from Team McLaren, who signed him to the McLaren driver development support programme. This contract included an option of a future F1 seat, thus making Hamilton the youngest ever driver to secure an F1 contract.

Lewis Hamilton continued his progress in the Intercontinental A (1999), Formula A (2000) and Formula Super A (2001) ranks, and became European Champion in 2000 with maximum points. In Formula A and Formula Super A, racing for TeamMBM.com, his team mate was Nico Rosberg, who would later drive for the Williams team in Formula One. Following his karting successes, the British Racing Drivers' Club made him a ‘Rising Star’ Member in 2000.

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