THE daughter of one of Britain’s most successful female racing drivers has made a promising start to competitive karting.

School Aycliffe’s Scarlet Dunn finished fifth at Rowrah Circuit, near Frizington, in Cumbria, on Sunday.

Scarlet was supported by mum Amanda Dunn - multiple British single seater car racing champion, formerly known as Amanda Whitaker.

“She really enjoyed herself and was keen to get back on the track,” said Ms Dunn. “She was very smooth and once she got used to the wet track she made no mistakes and kept on going faster. In every session Scarlet’s fastest lap was on the last lap.”

It was the youngster’s first time to the circuit - and the first time the team had been there since Ms Dunn raced there 30 years ago.

According to the team, the weather conditions worsened throughout but did not phase Scarlet. Competing in the Bambino class, which is decided on best lap times rather than wheel to wheel racing, she moved from eighth place in the heats to finish fifth place in the final.

She was supported at the event by her mother, mechanic Rob Storey and grandfather Ron Whitaker - who was a racer in the 1970s.

Two years ago, at the age of five, Scarlet took her first steps into motorsport when she climbed into the driving seat of a Bambino 50cc racing go kart at Sunderland’s Warden Law Motorsports Centre.

They hope to compete again at the next round in September.

Scarlet’s father Anthony Dunn is a National and European sports car champion and driver coach for McLaren Automotive.