“I love being his part-time kart mechanic, alongside my day job as a solutions engineer. I would not change it for the world,” Mr Cooke said.

Josh was inspired to take up karting aged six by YouTube clips of past Formula 1 championships and his hero Hamilton, a former karter, winning world titles.

“I clicked on a link and saw him racing in a go-kart when he was young at Rye House and fancied a go. That is how it all started,” he said.

“I love all the challenges, competing in the wet and the dry and against other people. But most of all, the speed.”

His kart can reach speeds up to 70mph (113km/h). His driving position is an inch (2.5cm) off the ground.

“It does not seem that quick when you are behind the wheel. But when you are [watching] off track, it looks really fast. It is really fun to drive,” he said.

Josh won his world title last year, aged just 10.