A CHULMLEIGH teenager is proving to be at the top of her game in the South West in the male dominated world of go karting.

Jem Hepworth (14), started karting at the age of 11 in June 2012 at Dunkeswell Kart Circuit.

Jem previously competed in endurance cross country quad racing from the age of eight.

Although successful, with a mass of trophies to show, she wanted to be involved in a sport in which she could improve and go "up the ranks".

Go karting provided this opportunity and with her dad as a talented mechanic, they decided to give it a go!

As soon as she passed her Association of Racing Kart Schools (ARKS) Test (a compulsory test set by the Motor Sports Association), she started racing as a novice cadet in Honda Class.

Grids were huge and Jem was the only female racer.

Novices start at the back of the grid.

Jem competed in five races as a novice before the end of season, winning "Best Rookie" trophy in 2012 at the Dunkeswell Kart club presentation evening.

She also won Best Novice Driver of the Year and South West Novice Champion of the Year.

Season 2014, with Jem reaching 13 years of age, saw rules dictate and she was required to leave cadet level and move up a class.

Selling her Honda set was sentimental as she had so many good memories of the two seasons.

She then went for a CRG minimax kart.

Playing with the big boys now, the grids were smaller but nevertheless very competitive driving.

Getting used to a bigger, heavier kart proved a challenge but Jem rose to it well.

She has been on the winner's podium in all but one race at Dunkeswell and is currently laying second in the overall Minimax championship.

Jem faced a tough final for the championship as despite winning two heats, she was awarded a penalty and had to start at the back of the grid for the final.

On this day, Jem showed her grit and determination and drove her best ever to battle her way up to second place only narrowly missing first place.

This proved she has what it takes, whatever the race day throws at her.

Jem's aim for 2015 is to step up to the next level.

This is the "Super One Series".

With a pedigree stretching back more than 29 years, Super One has been the nursery of so many top line professional motor racing drivers, too many to list but including David Coulthard, Jason Plato, Dario Franchitti, and of course the dream team of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, as well as team personnel at the highest level.

Super One is the official British and Association of British Kart Clubs National Championship and awards the seeded numbers for the classes.

It is a very competitive championship that continually produces world-class drivers.

Providing facilities that are to International Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK) level, Super One provides a level of competition not found at club meetings or championships running alongside club meetings.

These races gain national coverage as they are televised by "Sky" and shown on the "Motors" television channel.

Jem will possibly be the only female driver competing at this level.

Her first race is in Cumbria in April and meanwhile she will be competing locally at Dunkeswell Kart Club, her local and favourite track.