At only 22-years of age, Andre has time on his side and later this month he takes to the track in Michigan, USA, in the American RT 2000 Formula Dodge Championship where he hopes to write the next chapter in his rise to stardom.

Last year saw him compete in the same Formula Dodge series where all the chassis and engines are the same and the emphasis is put on the driver rather than the car or the team with the biggest budget.

In 14 races he scored three wins, four second places, one third position and won the "Rookie of the Year" title in the process.

And May 19 sees him kick-off the new 12-round season at Gratton Park in what is the American equivalent of the Formula Renault series, and Andre, from Marlings Park Avenue, is not short on confidence.

"I won three races last year and we hope to do better this time around," he said. "I would not rule out winning the championship because I do not think it is beyond the team."

Andre will be testing his driving skills against some of the best young drivers from Italy, Brazil and Australia and will be the only driver flying the flag for England in his Aztec Race Engineering car.

Last season also saw Andre compete in seven races of the BARC Formula Renault Championship where he scored three victories, took five pole positions and secured two fastest laps.

But Andre's racing career started at the tender age of ten when he started karting for fun in the 60cc cadet class.

He began racing in the 100cc Junior Britain category at 14, winning his very first race in the class and quickly established himself as an up-and-coming racer featuring at the front and winning many races he competed in.

As the karting became more professional with an increased budget, Andre was forced to miss a season, but at the age of 18 he set up a small business hiring out and running 100cc karts to the public which enabled him to practice for free and gain considerable mechanical knowledge.

In 1996, he entered into the Elf Fastrack competition consisting of 40 of the countries top kart racers. The four-day event was held at Silverstone and drivers were evaluated and timed in a variety of racing cars.

After three days hard racing six finalists were chosen which was then whittled down to three - Andre was voted second best driver by a panel of judges which included 1997 Touring Car Champion Alain Menu who said of the young talent: "He is an extremely talented driver who, with the right backing, has a promising career ahead of him."

Vauxhall touring car star Jason Plato added: "Andre has tremendous natural ability, and possesses all the right ingredients to become a future champion."

In 1997, Andre made his first step up to cars and competed in the National Formula First Championship. In his first ever car race he qualified third and finished second and over the course of 15 races he scored ten podium finishes, one victory, three pole positions, four fastest laps and one lap record. And despite missing the final three races of the season due to restricted finances, he finished third in a high quality field.

But Andre now turns his attention to Formula Dodge Series racing where he hopes a successful season will help him get a Formula Three drive and from there who knows.

Ambitious Andre said: "Like everybody who races, my ultimate ambition is to drive Formula One but I am realistic enough to realise that it takes a great deal of money and a lot of luck, but that is where I want to be."

Watch this space for news of Andre d'Cruze's progress this season.