A TEESSIDER is Britain’s new karting king – less than three years after taking up the sport.

Middlesbrough’s Hassan Zafar was crowned British Indoor Karting Champion, beating over 5,000 competitors to the title.

The achievement is even more remarkable given Hassan’s first time behind the wheel came at the end of 2021 when he visited the TeamSport track in Stockton.

Now the 21-year-old has found himself in pole position for further glory after securing a tasty sponsorship deal with a firm determined to help make the sport a bit greener.

“I visited TeamSport’s indoor track in Portrak Lane for a bit of fun and never in my wildest dreams did I think that three years later I’d be British champion,” said Hassan, from Normanby. “A few months after my visit I realised that I was actually pretty good. TeamSport had a membership session where I could race against better drivers, and competing against them really brought the best out of me. “Everything has since just snowballed to the point where I was competing at an incredibly high level – and winning. “I’m absolutely over the moon, it was a genuinely amazing feeling when I realised I’d won it and the buzz I get from karting is out of this world.” And despite karting’s gas-guzzling reputation, Hassan has secured a major sponsorship with a company determined to tackle global warming.

Plant-based manufacturer Myco is the brains behind a pioneering protein called Hooba. The oyster mushroom-based protein is crafted using one of the most sustainable production methods in the food industry – leading to their quarter pounder being dubbed ‘Britain’s Greenest Burger’. For Hassan, who often eats a vegan-friendly diet, the North Yorkshire food firm is helping to fuel his rise in the rankings – while the firm’s CEO, David Wood, is keen to help develop the sport. “Karting, and motor racing in general, has never had a great reputation for sustainability but that’s definitely starting to change,” added David. “At TeamSport, where Hassan learned his craft, the business has really pushed the environmental envelope by converting some of their tracks to cater for electric vehicles and that’s the sort of innovative approach that has attracted us to get involved in karting. “At Myco, our approach is also driven by innovation – our production site is the most unique in the UK and we are focused on working with the meat industry, not against it – to find sustainable solutions to lowering meat consumption and tackling the climate crisis. “That’s why we are so thrilled to support Hassan.”

For more information on Myco and Hooba, please visit their website.

Source: Myco