Blomqvist recorded three wins on his way to the Formula Renault title

Essex's Tom Blomqvist has vowed to make a mark on motorsport after breaking a record set by Lewis Hamilton.

The 16-year-old became the youngest ever Formula Renault UK champion on Sunday, a feat McLaren F1 driver Hamilton achieved aged 18.

Blomqvist told BBC Essex: "Lewis Hamilton is an extremely good driver and has achieved a lot.

"But I like to see myself as something new. I'm Tom Blomqvist and no-one else I guess."

The Fortec Motorsports driver clinched the title with third and second-placed finishes in the final two races of the campaign at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

It was the youngster's debut season in the Formula Renault UK championship, after competing in New Zealand and Sweden, and he is already planning his next move.

"I definitely won't be sticking with Formula Renault, I achieved what I set out to achieve and in the first year," he said.

"The British Formula Three series looks extremely strong this season and it's definitely our number one priority."

Blomqvist, who lives in Saffron Walden and was born in Cambridge, has also made the decision to race as a British driver.

He says he has the full blessing of his father, Sweden's former World Rally champion Stig Blomqvist.

"He doesn't mind, I think he's accepted I'm British. He's fine with it," he said.

"I was born here in England, my mum's fully English and my dad's half Swedish. I see myself as a Brit."

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