MALMESBURY’S karting kid Louis Harvey will be rubbing shoulders with reigning Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg – as well as the great and the good of motorsport – this weekend.

Like the now retired F1 ace, 12-year-old Louis will be appearing at the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is dubbed the industry’s biggest garden party.

The youngster was described as “our little celebrity this week” by his sponsors.

Louis, who competes in the Super One karting series, has been invited to attend by one of his main sponsors Wera Tools UK, who have a large corporate presence and trade stand at the Festival.

The Festival of Speed begins tomorrow (Thursday) on Lord March’s Goodwood House estate in Sussex and is a magnet for diverse motorsport enthusiasts with 100,000 members of the public due every day until Sunday.

It features an annual hill climb for historic motor racing vehicles and a large array of other driving events on its racing circuit.

Rosberg is scheduled to attend as are other legends of F1 including Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Alan Jones, current F1 driver Valterri Bottas, designer Ross Brawn, and a host of famous names from the world of motorcycling, like former world champion Giacomo Agostini.

Indy cars, rallying and TT races will also be well represented.

Among the car-mad celebrities due to compete are comedian Rowan Atkinson, Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, model Jodie Kidd and TV chef James Martin.

Harvey will be appearing with his Super One racing kart on the trade stand of his sponsors Wera Tools UK.

“We are now backing Louis and from our point of view it is great to be showing off another side of what we do – not just selling tools,” said Wera’s Nick Ashley.

“We will be making a feature of Louis’ kart along with the Renault Clio which we sponsor in the televised Clio Cup.

“And we have also added the Le Mans-winning Porsche Kremer 935 on our stand.

“Sponsoring Louis’s kart and the Clio are new departures for us.

“Louis will be spending plenty of time with us on the stand but I’m sure he will enjoy the Festival like every other visitor. Sponsoring Louis is a good fit for us – he is our little celebrity this week.

“We represent him and we help maintain his kart – so we want to show him off too.

“We are based on one of the main walkways through the Festival so this is sure to get his name out there. It is our sixth year here and we are doubling our size year on year.

“We want to show that we believe in Louis and his kart is sure to get a lot of attention on our stand."