Hampshire racing driver Sam Hancock was chosen by Classic Team Lotus to drive in last weekend's Tribute to Ayrton Senna meeting at Donington Park.

Former Formula Palmer Audi star Hancock actually got to drive the Team Lotus 97T which was Senna's old car and beamed: "It was an incredible honour.

"I can vaguely remember watching Ayrton win his first grand prix at Estoril in the car when I was about five years old. So to drive the car was like a dream come true."

Classic Team Lotus managing director Clive Chapman said: "We are privileged to have the 97T/2 in our collection. The Donington tribute is the first time the car has been driven in public since its original Team Lotus mechanics completed the complicated restoration to race-ready condition."

Last year Hancock, from Basingstoke, became one of the youngest drivers to represent Ferrari in the Le Mans 24 Hours and, after an impressive debut season in the FIA Sportscar Championship, he won Rookie of the Year.

British under-15 speedway champion James Humby from Romsey has gained a valuable new sponsor in Blue Diamond Bearings of Chandler's Ford. It will help the 14-year-old schoolboy continue his development towards clinching a place in a Conference League team, first stepping stone towards a dream of becoming a British Elite League rider.

"To do this he must continue to impress at the highest level his age will allow," said his father.

Blue Diamond, established for over 20 years, supply seals and bearings to UK and European manufacturers particularly in the automotive field.

Hightown Primary schoolgirl Kayleigh Durston showed the boys the way home in a Meon Valley Club motocross event at Allington Lane. Kayleigh is just nine yet she won three races against a dozen boys in the Auto 50cc class.

She races for the Portsmouth, Meon Valley and Morden clubs and is currently second for her age group in the Portsmouth Schoolboy Club Championship.

Kayleigh, second for her age nationwide last season, this year has some important national dates coming up in Doncaster and Cullum in August and Matchams Park in Ringwood on September 3 and 4.

Southampton trucker Jason Parker thunders into Thruxton this weekend for a double helping of high-powered, heavyweight racing.

The Hampshire track stages the Anglo-French Truck Challenge and two rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship.

Two of Parker's biggest rivals Ross Garrett (Bath) and Cornel Day (Thatcham) look on Thruxton as their home track so there will be plenty of local support for the trio.

There are 17 races on the programme this weekend, including the King of Kent's Formula Ford 1600 series featuring Patrick Blakeney who is the chief instructor at the Thruxton Motorsport Centre. It's the first time the 1600s have raced at the Andover track for seven years.

Allen Timpany from Hartley Wintney is in the field for the SRCC Sports 2000 Championship event. Racing on Saturday starts at 3.15 and 10.30 on Sunday.

Hampshire's former national junior rally champion Justin Dale had a short and not so sweet baptism in the Hyundai at the Rally of Cyprus. The Stockbridge man had to pull out during the second stage of the World Championship event with an overheating engine.

Dale, noted for his more recent success with Peugeot, has struck a six-rally deal with the Hyundai team.