A YOUNG driver in a Beccles racing team is gearing up to make history by winning an incredible treble - a feat, his manager describes as “almost unheard of”.

A YOUNG driver in a Beccles racing team is gearing up to make history by winning an incredible treble - a feat, his manager describes as “almost unheard of”.

Chris Lock is in the Ellough Park Raceway team and races Rotax Max 125cc carts, which are just one level below the very top division of cart racing.

The 21-year-old won the European championships in Belgium in September and then clinched the double when he came first in the British championships in October.

Now he has the chance to land the treble when he flies out to Italy later this month to take part in the world championships.

“It's unheard of to win all three,”

said team manager Steve Armstrong,

“it doesn't happen.

“It's fiercely competitive in Rotax. It's hard to say if he'll win the world championships, but I think he'll definitely get in the top three for sure.”

Chris will travel to Lecce for the competition on Monday, November 24, to get ready for the heats, which will take place on the Friday and Saturday.

Should he be successful in the heats, he will race against the finalists on Sunday, November 30.

To qualify for the world championships, which involves 55 different nationalities, drivers

either had to win their domestic championships or finish in the top three on their continent.

As champion of both Britain and Europe, Chris is certainly well qualified.

“It's the one race you want to

qualify for at the start of the season,” said Chris, who lives in Oulton

Broad.

“It gets loads of coverage and it's a good event to be a part of. I'm fairly confident because I think most of the drivers I raced against in Europe will be there, and I've beaten them, so I'm fairly sure I can have a good race.”

Chris is the nephew of Richard Lock who runs the raceway, and started racing at the age of 12.

“I'd always watched Formula One and I wanted to have a go,” said Chris.

“I wanted to start earlier than 12, but my dad wouldn't let me. I don't think he wanted to start spending the money!”

He added: “I don't have a job because I have such a busy schedule. I'm just concentrating on racing.

“You're away all week doing racing so it's difficult to do much else. But I'd like to end up as a fully qualified paid driver in go-karting at European level.”