Le Manx are ready for Le Mans! A team of young racers are getting reading for the ultimate kart racing challenge - the Le Mans 24-hour pro karting event which takes place on July 2nd and 3rd. They will compete as 3 Legs Racing which was formed following a collaboration between The Children’s Centre and Team Dazzle - an Isle of Man-based team of pro-kart racers. The aim of the racing challenge was to bring together a group of young people from across the Island who needed a catalyst to bring about real change in their lives. A team of nine young men aged 16 to 21 - Joe Callister, Adam Clarke, Will Griffin, Nathaniel Harper, Michael Hodgeson, Sam Lewin, Chris Mealin, Warren Spencer and Danny Sutton - were selected to take part in six months of training and race preparation under the guidance of Team Dazzle experts. They were all novices in kart racing when the project began in January, but they are now just two months away from representing the Isle of Man in the 2011 Le Mans 24 hour pro-karting race – the world’s biggest pro-karting event. The programme has helped team members to build self-confidence, develop life skills and taught them to work as part of a team. Will Griffin said: “This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all and the thrill of going to Le Mans is amazing. None of us ever thought we would get an opportunity like this and we are all committed to making it happen. We will be proud to represent the Isle of Man as 3 Legs Racing.” Eight of the nine team members will drive during the Le Mans race. Will Griffin will run the team’s pit area and keep the drivers on the circuit up to date with race timings. The team made its racing debut over the Easter weekend at the Clay Pigeon track in Dorset competing against 40 other teams. 3 Legs Racing competed as two teams in Dorset and secured a third place and a fourth place in two different classes. Their final preparation race before Le Mans will be in Teesside in May. The 3 Legs Racing team has received generous support from a number of Island organisations. Donations have been received from Collins Stewart Wealth Management, Arland Ussher Charitable Trust, and Robert Hamilton Charitable Trust. The team is also being supported by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which has provided reduced price ferry crossings for all three off-Island races. Carl Faragher, Acting Head of Outreach Services at The Children’s Centre, thanked Team Dazzle, the team’s sponsors, and the Isle of Man Karting Association which allowed the team to use the Jurby track. He added: “All of the team should be very proud of their performances on and off the track. This weekend’s success stands them in good stead for Le Mans and the whole project has helped the team members grow and develop as individuals.” Hock Chan, principle of Team Dazzle, summed up the positive impact that being part of the 3 Legs Racing team was having on the squad. He said: “Prior to the races in Dorset the team listened to the briefings and then drove onto the busy track on Saturday morning with visible trepidation. But every one of them came back sporting huge grins. The weekend then got better and better.” - ENDS -