WANNABE Lewis Hamilton's from across Worcestershire swapped their business suits for overalls and got behind the wheel to race in aid of a popular county charity.

Chartered accountants Hayward Wright brought 64 participants from 16 businesses together for its annual karting event at Grand Prix Karting in Birmingham in aid of Sight Concern Worcestershire,one of the firm’s chosen charities.

Racers were not just quick on the track, but were fast at putting their hands in their pockets too, raising £1,400 to help blind and partially sighted people in the county lead independent lives. The charity has more than 300 volunteers and helps at least 200 people every year live independently in their own homes as well as hundreds of others who attend its various support groups and activities. It offers courses in skills that can help people cope with sight loss as well as eye tests.

The gruelling 90-minute endurance race was won by Hewett Recruitment from Kidderminster, whose drivers topped more than 100 laps and took home the winners medals and champagne. Second place went to motor dealership Hills Ford, also from Kidderminster, while supply chain consultants Venator Solutions of Alcester took third spot on the podium.

Hayward Wright’s managing director Alistair Hayward-Wright said: “We hold many charity events but there’s no doubt that this was one of the most popular with everyone keen to see if they could be the next Lewis Hamilton. We didn’t uncover any future F1 stars but we did raise a lot of money for charity as well as awareness of the great work that Jenny Gage and the team Sight Concern Worcestershire do to help hundreds of people to live independent lives. The efforts and hard work of their army of volunteers make an enormous difference to blind and partially sighted people. I’d like to thank everyone again for taking part and supporting the event. They got the chance to experience a first class karting track, network with others and help a fantastically worthy cause.”