Louth's karting farm boy, 12, hopes to emulate Lando Norris on world stage
A talented young motor-racing driver from the Louth area is dreaming of following in the skid-marks of Lando Norris by becoming a world champion.
Brit Norris is on the verge of being crowned the king of Formula One, with just two grand prix to go in the title race.
And 12-year-old Tom Read has a karting world honour in his sights this weekend, which could be the first step to making it to F1 level himself one day.
Tom lives on the family farm, with parents James and Sally, at North Reston, just outside Louth. And he’s not averse to helping out by driving tractors around the place and looking after the sheep.
But karting is his passion and he has been selected to represent Team GB at the grand finals of the Rotax World Championships in Bahrain, which start on Saturday (November 29).
"Most of the drivers on the F1 grid started in karting and won world finals,” said Tom, who is nicknamed ‘The Farmer’. “I just need to do the same.”
Sally and James, who are travelling out to the Middle East with him, said: “To get to Bahrain is a dream. It has been an immense journey, and we’re so proud of him.”
Nurturing his love for “anything with an an engine”, Tom started karting at the age of eight and quickly left opponents in his tracks.
So far, he has won more than 70 trophies, and he was signed by the Strawberry Racing team in 2023 after being spotted at the PF International Circuit in Brandon, near Grantham.
James said: “He started at an old Lancaster Bomber airfield base near Woodthorpe, and just rocketed from there. Every waking hour, he’s thinking about karting and racing.”
Probably Tom’s best achievement so far came in March when he was crowned European winter champion for his age group in Italy.
Working around the farm certainly keeps Tom fit for his karting. But maybe there is another secret ingredient to his success.
"Whenever we’re going out to race, he loves to have a plate of steak and chips and a pint of milk,” revealed Sally.
"We're often asked if we have a cow tethered up outside, given the amount of milk he drinks! It keeps his bones strong and has kept him racing.”
If Tom is successful in Bahrain, the Reads hope it will help him attract sponsorship from local businesses, or grant funding from East Lindsey District Council, to help keep his career moving forward.