A CAR-mad teenager is hoping to make his dream of racing alongside his Formula 1 heroes a reality.

Aspiring racing car driver Taylor Laskowski, 16, dreams of becoming a Formula 1 driver one day, but his family are struggling to help fund his route into the expensive sport.

The Oswaldtwistle lad, who is due to study motorsport at college, said: “I want to be competing in championships soon, but I need my own kart.

“My future, as I see it, is to become an F1 driver and make my name known by becoming the best driver I know I can be.

“I am ready for the hard work, discipline and commitment.”

The Mount Carmel High School pupil has been into cars since he was just six and wanted to go into rallying, until he watched F1 in the first lockdown. Now, Taylor’s only dream is F1.

Lancashire Telegraph: Taylor got into motorsports from a young age.

He said: “I just loved it because I can relate to circuit racing. I want to show that you can get into F1 on more than just money and that anyone can do it if we get a chance.

“I want to make it and have my dream come true and teach people how to get into the sport too.”

Taylor’s favourite drivers are McLaren duo Lando Norris and Australian Daniel Ricciardo, the funnyman of F1.

He said: “They’re the happiest drivers on the grid, especially Daniel, he’s really funny and I look up to him because I want to drive for Red Bull one day.”

Taylor spent the Covid-19 lockdowns competing online in races with F1 e-sports team, TRTE Sport. After discovering it on social media platform TikTok, he qualified for the spot and raced alongside F1 drivers such as Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly.

After a successful stint in e-racing, Red Bull Racing invited Taylor to drive for them for the 2021 e-sports season.

As F1 is such an expensive sport to break into, his parents are struggling to get Taylor everything he needs.

Lancashire Telegraph: Taylor karting at race tracks.

Mum Tracy said: “We always thought he would become a mechanic like his dad, but a couple of years ago he went karting with friends and fell in love with it.

“But you need a lot of money and the prices for karts start at around £2,000. We will get it for him because this is his biggest dream.”

Taylor needs his own kart to compete in races, transport for the kart as well as racing boots, back support, HANS, which is used to protect the neck, a helmet, his ARKS racing licence, and the cost of competing and travelling.

To donate, visit gofundme.com and search Taylor Laskowski.