The Motor Sport Association (MSA) has selected reigning CIK-FIA European Champion George Russell to represent the UK in the 2012 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

The CIK invited the MSA to nominate a single driver to contest the Trophy, a World Championship for 13-15 year olds, over three events. Braga (Portugal), Angerville (France) and Bahrain. The series will feature 50 drivers from all different countries.

Russell, aged 14 from Tydd st Giles in Cambridgeshire began in Karting in 2006. He won the MSA British Cadet Kart Championship in 2009 and took the the 2010 Super 1 and Formula Kart Stars Rotax Mini Max titles, before being crowned the 2011 CIK-FIA European Champion in Zuera (Spain). He is the first driver to win the Kart Masters Grand Prix in different classes in consecutive years, and also won the TAG Junior Title at the SKUSA Super Nationals XV in Las Vegas last November.

Russell said "its a massive privilege to have been chosen by the MSA because the Karting Academy Trophy is a very prestigious championship. My aim is to add another title to my CV and Britain's karting record, and hopefully the international karting experience I've had recently will help me to achieve that goal".

MSA Performance Director Robert Reid, who headed the performance panel that made the selection said "we received several strong applications from some very promising young karters, which made choosing just one very difficult indeed. However, George's National and International record speaks for itself, and consolation among some of the leading figures in UK karting confirmed that he is best placed right now to make the most of this opportunity. We will do some preparation work with him before the events to make sure he has the best possible chance of success".