There are not many people who can say they have been presented with an award by Lewis Hamilton one year and Jenson Button the next, but for exciting young Peterborough karting hotshot Callum Bowyer, his brushes with Formula 1 royalty have only served to reinforce his resolve to one day emulate his heroes in joining the grand prix grid.

In 2008, Callum was honoured by then newly-crowned F1 World Champion Hamilton for achieving the rare feat of championship glory in the Mini Max class of both major British karting series, BRDC Stars of Tomorrow and Super 1.

Twelve months later, the 15-year-old Gunthorpe ace has similarly found himself coming face-to-face with the McLaren-Mercedes star’s title-winning successor and new team-mate Button for having finished an excellent second in Stars – now re-baptised Formula Kart Stars (FKS) and boasting the official support of both Hamilton and influential Formula 1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone – and fourth in Super 1 in the more powerful and fiercely-competitive KF3 category.

Adorning his mantelpiece alongside a framed photograph with Hamilton, therefore, now sit two trophies autographed by countryman Button – and in the years to come, Callum makes it very clear, he fully intends to be following in their illustrious wheeltracks and tasting some F1 podium champagne of his own.

“It was a really good experience to get my trophy from Jenson,” reflected the cash-strapped, Chris Rogers-run speed demon. “It doesn’t actually sink in until a couple of hours later that you’ve just met the F1 World Champion... I’m definitely a fan of Jenson’s; he has a lot of support in this country obviously, and he started off in a similar situation to us and has made it. Lewis is the same – neither of them came from particularly wealthy backgrounds.

“They both started out in karting, and hopefully if just a couple of doors open up we will be able to progress as well. Their success gives me a lot of inspiration to keep on pushing as hard as I always do, and confidence that I can achieve my goal like they’ve both done. We just need to keep up all the hard work and determination.

“It’s great that we’ve had a British F1 World Champion two years on the bounce. Jenson had a good team around him last year and a good car, and he did the business with it. He was the fastest driver out there at the beginning of the year and performed flawlessly.

“McLaren got left behind at the start of 2009, but they pulled it together and in the second half of the season Lewis set four pole positions and virtually dominated, so that proved the car was definitely good enough by the end. He was a great inspiration too in coming from nowhere to do that. Hopefully the team will stay at the front this year, and I think both Lewis and Jenson have a good chance, to be honest – I’d love to see an all-British battle for the title.

“It will be interesting to see what Michael Schumacher does; that could go one of two ways I think, because he could go out and just blitz everyone and prove that he’s still the best despite spending three years away from the grid – or he might struggle a bit due to his lack of seat time over that period and the fact that he is that much older now.”

Of more immediate concern for Callum is the upcoming finale of the 2009/10 Winter Series campaign at PF International in Lincolnshire, where he will be bidding to overturn the eight-point deficit currently separating him from the championship leader and with it clinch the coveted ‘O’ Plate honours that accompany title success.

Such an accomplishment would be a remarkable result given that not only is the Ken Stimpson School pupil new to the KF2 class in which he is competing this year, but he has also failed to finish either of the two finals so far due to mechanical woes.

“It would just be amazing to win the ‘O’ Plate,” he concluded, acknowledging that to do so would crown a superb graduation to KF2 to-date and palpably eager to start as he means to go on. “I would be absolutely over-the-moon with that.

“I don’t think any of us expected to be this close to the pace this soon, but we are – that has come as a bit of a shock to everyone! We’ve earned the respect of the more experienced drivers in the class already – and even if we don’t win the ‘O’ Plate, I think we’ve certainly opened people’s eyes a bit.”

Callum is still seeking sponsorship for the 2010 season, and if you are interested in backing him please contact Tracey Bowyer on 01733 701099 or 07960 400731, or e-mail: callumkf3@hotmail.com