Single-seater motor racing sensation David Epton is aiming to make the New Year a very happy one for leading charities by taking part in a special celebrity karting event at the Autosport International Show next Friday, 12th January.The 25-year-old Preston driver, who competed in Formula Renault UK last season and is bidding to make the step-up to the prestigious World Series by Renault category this year, is to take part in the David Brabham-led Racing4Charity.com Celebrity Kart Challenge during next week’s 2007 Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC.Drawing together stars from the world of motorsport, celebrity drivers and members of the public, the 60-minute race will be contested by 15 teams of four drivers and all proceeds raised from the event will go to worthwhile charities which all have the aim of helping provide children with a better future.As part of the FRUKing Quick entry, David will be joined by his team-mate from last season, Will Bratt, fellow Formula Renault competitor Matt Shawyer and a member of the public for the hour-long endurance race. The quartet will compete in aid of Whizz-Kidz, a charity which provides customised mobility equipment for disabled youngsters.Looking ahead to the event, David said: “It’s going to be really fun racing, and it will be great to be back in a kart again, but at the same time it will have a serious purpose. The main aim is to support Whizz-Kidz while having a really fantastic time in the process. I’m sure we’ll face some very stiff competition but we’ll be going all out to win the event.“I’ve always enjoyed helping to raise money for charity so I’m delighted to be taking part in the Autosport International Celebrity Kart Challenge. Hopefully myself, Will, Matt and our fourth team-mate will give Whizz-Kidz a really good boost through our efforts.”David, who formerly resided in Fleet, Hampshire, concluded his karting career in 2002 and then made the step up to car racing in Formula Renault UK. He went on to race in Formula Palmer Audi in 2005 and a highly successful season saw David end the year as Vice-Champion, tied on points at the head of the championship standings.Having secured continued backing from key sponsors Bombardier Learjet, Universal Aviation & Weather Inc and Jet-Air International Lebanon & Germany, David returned to Formula Renault UK in 2006 with Scorpio Motorsport. He is now working hard to secure a deal to compete in either the World Series by Renault or the new World Touring Car Championship-supporting Formula S2000.Autosport International is, of course, the foremost motorsport extravaganza in the world and runs over four days at Birmingham’s NEC each and every year with the biggest names from single-seater racing, touring car competition, rallying and karting all making guest appearances.While the opening day of the show, Thursday, 11th January, is reserved as press and trade day and Friday, 12th January, is also restricted to trade visitors, Saturday and Sunday, 13th/14th January, mark the two public days of the show with hundreds of thousands of racing fans expected to attend.

Returning to the Celebrity Kart Challenge, the event is set to be televised on digital satellite channel Motors TV at a later date.