'I've wanted to race at Le Mans since I was five'

A teenager has said he feels "ready" to make his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race he has wanted to enter since the age of five.

Edward Pearson, 19, from Guildford in Surrey, will be driving in the famous endurance race for the first time in a team alongside former Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan.

Pearson, who passed his road driving test in November and had not driven in an endurance race a year ago, said he was excited to be part of the event.

He told BBC Radio Surrey: "Since I was five I've wanted to do this race. I feel ready."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in motorsport.

It involves three classes of cars going at much different speeds racing at the same time for 24 hours straight.

The winner is the car that covers the longest distance.

Each car has three drivers, with Pearson and his teammates each driving in 40 minute stints.

Pearson will drive in the LMP2 class race for the Nielsen Racing car, alongside former Alpine F1 driver Doohan and David Heinemeier Hansson.

Taking part in the race means using "all of your brain power" on driving, he said.

His needs to overtake much slower cars in the lower class race, while also being overtaken by the much faster hypercars in the upper class race.

He said the sport was gaining popularity, adding: "It's great to be in a sport that is growing."

The race is due to begin on Saturday, 13 June and finish on Sunday, 14 June.

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