DRIVING ambition will spur on a teenager when he competes in the European scale radio-controlled model car racing championship this weekend.

Matthew Lax, of Cleeve in Glascote, will be up against more than 120 other racers from around Europe at the championships, being held in Hinckley.

And, as he is ranked number 3 in the UK, the 18-year-old UPS worker hopes to finish within the top 10 of the competition.

Matthew said: "It's all about your driving skills. This will be my fourth championship competition.

"They are very enjoyable, but you do have to work very hard.

"I'd like to win, but we'll have to wait and see."

Matthew has been racing radio-controlled cars for almost 10 years, after his dad Peter took him to a club in Ashby.

Since then he has perfected his skills and is now considered to be one of the best in the country.

At this weekend's event he will take on the best of the rest with his American BMI car, which is capable of reaching speeds of over 40 mph.

Competitors race on a specially prepared 480 square mile track at the Hinckley Leisure Centre, in Coventry Road, Hinckley.

Admission is free to spectators for the event, which is on from Friday to Sunday.

More details about the event can be found at www.ec2010.org