The British Motor Show returned this August with a new focus on promoting youngsters in Motorsport and helping encourage a new generation of drivers to get involved in the sport. Our Kids In Motorsport focus featured dedicated sessions on the MOTORS Kids Stage where visitors were able to hear how our panel of young drivers got into motorsport and ask questions too.
We also featured a session in The Bridgestone Arena each day, dedicated to under 18 drivers showcasing their cars and relevant race series, from go Karts through to stunt bikes. Our Motorsport paddock was also packed with young drivers eager to talk about their sport and how they got into racing.
Oscar Stockley King started karting when he was just 8 yrs old at his local arrive and drive track at the end of 2022. In 2023 he achieved a number of wins and podiums taking him to a 2nd place finish overall. Last year he took part in the National Club100 Cadet Championship and has re-entered the championship again this year.
Since the start of the year, he has also been racing a Rotax Intermax kart and has now taken the next step by testing a Rotax Junior kart with PRP Racing in readiness for the 2025 Season.
He races a Junior Rotax 125 Evo with a 1040 wheelbase (junior through to adult chassis) which revs to 14000rpm making just over 24bhp
Alyssa is 11 years old and has been riding motorbikes since she was just 6 years old . She loves her motorbike and is Solent Stars first ever girl car jumper. When she’s not riding her own bike, she likes riding pillion on her dad’s bike and really loves Crisps.
Alyssa will be part of The Solent Stars stunt team each day and will be taking part in our Kids In Motorsport Panel session on The MOTORS Kids Stage
Just turned 19 , Ruben has proven himself to be a fast, clean and successful driver across a variety of different motorsport disciplines. He's been racing for 12 years, having started in Bambino karts (aged 6) and Cadet karts (aged 8), before switching to cars in Autograss (aged 12), Circuit racing (aged 14) and then senior Circuit racing at 16.
Sinceg etting behind the wheel of a bambino kart, Ruben has demonstrated continual progression through the junior ranks of British motorsport. In 2022 he progressing into senior racing in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge. Ruben became UK Vice-Champion and Nottingham Champion in Junior Saloons in 2018. In 2019, Ruben joined the Junior Saloon Car Championship. Once again, grabbing his first JSCC podium at Brands Hatch in front of a crowd of 35,000 spectators.
Liona Theobald is an 18 year old female racing driver from Fleet, Hampshire, she started racing when she was 15 in Ginetta Juniors and is now competing in the Ginetta GT Cup Championship where she has finished on the podium twice already and was voted driver of the day at Snetterton.
She started her journey in cars with the Under 17 Car Club and Farnborough District Motor Club when she was 14 before starting circuit racing! Her goal is to race at Le Mans 24hr
She is currently studying with the Motorsport UK Academy at Loughborough finishing her two year programme and working as a coach helping other people progress both on and off track!
Jack is 17 years old an has been riding motorbikes since the age of 5, he admits he loves anything with wheels and an engine. As one of the more senior members of the Solent Stars team he likes to mentor the younger riders and new members to help them gain confidence and provides them with tips and hints to help keep them safe.
As well as taking part in the Solent Stars stunt display every day, Jack will also be part of the Kids In Motorsport session in The Bridgestone Arena
Leo started racing Karts at just 8 years old, winning 3 club championships and 2 county championships before progressing on to racing cars. Leo now races in the Mini Cooper Challenge with Graves Motorsport in 2024 at just 16 years old.
The Cooper Class provides close, fair racing at an entry level, and will make three appearances on the BTTC Calendar this year with all rounds will either be shown live on ITV4, or streamed via social media.
Sandro is a teenage racing driver from Rochdale and the star of a cBBC documentary following his journey from kart racing to cars. He was diagnosed with autism aged three, and his obsession with wheels led to his first drive in a kart age five. After competing in multiple championships he is now chasing his dream of becoming a professional racing driver.
After securing a 2nd and 4th place in two kart championships, he completed the transition from karting at the end of the 2021 season, spending his first full season racing cars in 2022 in the Junior Saloons, and the next year age 16 moved to the BMW116 series. This season he is racing an Audi TT in the Club Enduro series in two hour races still as a privateer, maintaining the racecars on the driveway at home...And he doesn't have a road licence yet!!
Jaxon is just 11 years old but has already been riding motorbikes for four years.
He absolutely loves his stunt riding and likes nothing more than jumping through fire…. even if it gets a bit hot! He's favourite trick is riding side saddle,
Jax will be part of the Solent Stars team on Saturday and Sunday and also joining our Kids In Motorsport Panel.