Formula One fan Mark Beaumont hopes his dreams of becoming a Grand Prix driver will come true after winning a place in a TV show to find a new racing star.
Mark, 34, of Penn Road, Hazlemere, is taking part in the competition which is due to be shown on Channel Five this summer.
Born on the same day as his driving hero Michael Schumacher, Mark hopes the contest, which starts next month, may lead to him sharing the track with his idol.
Mark, who works as an IT salesman in Bracknell, said: "Who knows what it may lead to? I would love a career in motorsport. It would be great to make it onto a Formula One grid."
He got the bug for driving fast cars when he received a birthday gift to drive a race car round a track. Mark, who is going to watch the Le Mans 24 hour race in France in May, said: "I have always had an interest but after my day at the motor school I thought I had a bit of talent for it."
The motorsport enthusiast entered the 2003 UK Formula One Driving Challenge, run by car magazine Exchange and Mart, after seeing it on motoring show Fifth Gear.
He said: "I rushed out and bought a copy of the magazine. They then wrote back to me just after Christmas. I then had to perform a number of tests to see if I was what they were looking for and last Monday I was told I was in."
The winner of the competition gets the chance to drive a Tyrell Formula One car in a race at the famous Italian Grand Prix circuit in Monza.
The car was driven originally by ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle in 1985.
A contract with Essentially Sport, a sports management company that looks after British Grand Prix driver Jenson Button, will also await the winning contestant.
Before getting behind the wheel of the Grand Prix car, Mark must negotiate seven rounds of the competition.
Mark hopes that even if he does not win the competition that appearing on the television show may catch the eye of a racing team boss who will give him the chance to drive professionally.
He said: "To be able to make a living as a motorsport driver in any capacity would be wonderful.
"I think that would be most people's dream to make a living doing what you like."
January 30, 2003 15:00
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