Motorsport News: Between the Lines

He is one of the most successful racers in the country - but you've probably never heard of him.

Mark Litchfield, 23, has just won the British Formula A title - also known as the British Karting Championship - for the third consecutive year.

That's no mean feat. He is the first man to score such a hat trick and really, in another life, it would have been five on the trot.

In 2002 he lost the title in the courts following a controversial collision in 2003 he was narrowly beaten to the crown by team-mate Gary Catt. What we have here is arguably the best kart racer Britain has ever seen.

His talent and kart control is as good as any top single-seater racer - and this has earned him a paid drive with Paul Fletcher - owner of Lincolnshire super-circuit PF International. Litchfield is thus Britain's only professional kart driver. He spends his life racing and testing and he loves it.

So why has he never progressed into single-seaters, like many of the compatriots he has beaten over the years?

He has tested a Renault Clio Cup racer as his prize for winning last year's British title and admits there is a flicker of desire for him to pursue a car career.

However, he is a realistic guy and realises his racing career could be over quickly if he gets into the wrong team at Formula BMW or Formula Renault level. His career could then stall, leaving him with nothing. Can you blame him for staying put?

He gets to travel the world and do what he loves - for a living. Professional karting, a more common profession in mainland Europe, is nice work if you can get it and Litchfield continues to make the most of his opportunity. He continues to win at a high level, week in, week out.

That said, if the right car offer came along, I'm sure Litchfield would give it serious thought... but sadly it seems unlikely that anyone will table such a deal. That is modern motorsport's loss.

Top-level karting is ripe with talents such as Litchfield, but they lack the backing that has helped the Lewis Hamiltons of this world. Litchfield's next goals are to secure the European title or the CIK/FIA World Championship.

Don't be surprised if he returns from Angerville, France, as world champion next month. It is just a shame that he'll probably never step on the ladder towards that other world championship... the one with a much higher profile.