BRITAIN'S new racing superstar Lewis Hamilton has given British motorsport and the Formula 1 tourism trade a major booster.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ace Hamilton, nicknamed "Hammy", made his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in March this year, finishing third - a result that triggered a tripling of advance ticket sales for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.

Then he went on to become the first ever F1 driver to secure a podium finish in each of his first three World Champ-ionship Grands Prix.

Then at Barcelona on Sunday he made it four out of four, with three successive second places, after following Ferrari's Felipe Massa to the line just 6.7secs adrift, to top the table .

"Things just keep getting better and I continue living my dream," he said. Lewis is two points ahead of reigning World Champion Fernando Alonso, his team mate, who finished third after a first-corner clash with Massa.

Britain's David Coulthard (Red Bull), was fifth, his best result in nearly a year.

With such an exciting start to the season, Hammy now has fans queuing up to see him in action.

At the pre-season launch of Silverstone's Back the Brits' campaign, a season-long initiative to generate support for all four British F1 drivers - the others being Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson - BRDC president and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill predicted that 2007 would be an exciting year for our drivers, Hamilton in particular.

Hill commented: "Lewis is with the right team at the right time and has every chance of going on to win Grands Prix this season. He can expect a fantastic reception at his home race and he would go down as a legend in the sport if he were to win the British Grand Prix in his first ever season."

Tickets for the Santander British Grand Prix are available from £99 (£50 for children). For details or to buy tickets, visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or call 08704 588 300.

Meanwhile Diane Simons of tour operator Grandstand Motor Sports said that there was a definite "Hamilton effect" emerging.

She said: "The instant success of Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren-Mercedes this season has fired the imagination of F1 fans everywhere and already bookings are up by 20 per cent compared to this time last year.

"We're all enjoying not only seeing the young newcomer on the podium at every race but also the effect on the rest of the field who are having to step up their game to get in the points.

"Tours for all the races are filling fast. The buzz is back in F1 and it's good to be part of it. There's no substitute for being there!"

For more information about Grandstand Motor Sports call 0845 375 0300 or visit www.grandstandmotorsports.co.uk.