Being recognised as an ambassador for women in motorsport and becoming the first female F1 champion are just two of the goals ambitious teenager Jessica Hawkins has set herself.

The 16-year-old champion karting star already has a slew of successes under her belt having been introduced to the sport by her father Mike, of Twickenham.

And Hawkins hoped her exploits would inspire other girls to motorsport success.

“I can’t think of 10 girls that race in the whole of motorsport, the ratio is probably like one to 1,000, because girls think it is a boys’ sport,” she said.

“I’d say boys are more interested in it from a young age but I think if more girls gave it a go they’d like it.

“I think there should be more girls in the sport and I would love to be an ambassador for women in the sport.”

Hawkins, who juggles her training and racing with her schoolwork, fondly recalls the first time she got behind the wheel.

She said: “I think I was about six and me and my dad used to play a lot of sport together. We were at Sandown raceway at the golf range and in the background was the karting.

“I was bugging my dad about trying it but I was too small. Six months later they had moved their height restrictions down and that was it.”

Hawkins is currently PKP Motorsport’s factory driver and is already eyeing a bright future.

“If I get sponsorship I want to go all the way to F1 and want to be the first woman champion,” she added.

For more details visit jessic ahawkinsracing.co.uk.

Jessica’s track record: 2005 – Sandown Park club open champion 2009 – British Open Honda champion 2011 – European karting BNL karting series winner 2011 – MSA Kart Masters British kart Grand Prix runner up