| It was probably the most nail-biting, | | | | racing gradually became reality over the years, his |
| right-to-the-wire race ever to take place in | | | | dedication to becoming a winner strengthened. But |
| Formula One and on Sunday 2nd November 2008, | | | | did he realise that not only would he become a |
| floors all over the United Kingdom were pounded | | | | Formula One hero, he would also become a world |
| by hundreds of thousands of feet as racing fans | | | | record holder, a global brand and probably one of |
| literally jumped for joy when Lewis Hamilton finally | | | | the highest earning sports people in the world? |
| achieved his dream: to become the Formula One | | | | At only 23 years of age Lewis Hamilton has a |
| World Champion. | | | | good ten years left to reign over Formula One, |
| Hearts leapt at the last when Timo Glock fell back | | | | and it has been estimated his earnings by 2012 |
| and Hamilton made the fifth place he so | | | | could clock in at a staggering £500million, |
| desperately needed to get him those vital points, | | | | providing he keeps winning of course. |
| taking him just one point above Felipe Massa to | | | | Currently occupying the top podium spot for the |
| clinch the revered title. | | | | title of highest earning sports person is Tiger |
| A few days, on as the celebrations reside, we | | | | Woods who is set to have earned around a billion |
| can't help think about how this life changing | | | | dollars from sport by 2010. |
| experience is going to affect Lewis Hamilton, the | | | | But whilst Lewis may not yet be on pole for this |
| youngest ever Formula One World Champion, | | | | particular race, becoming a global brand will bring a |
| who is now on course to become a global brand | | | | substantial boost to his overall earnings thanks to |
| and possibly the highest earning sports person in | | | | a combination of his championship win; the fact |
| history. | | | | that unlike other sports, Formula One is known |
| Born on the 7th of January 1985 in Stevenage, | | | | throughout every continent of the world; and of |
| Hertfordshire and named after nine-time Olympic | | | | course because of his sheer likeability and appeal |
| gold medal winner Carl Lewis, Hamilton's racing | | | | to people of all ages and genders. |
| career started at the age of eight at Rye House | | | | So with years of motor racing ahead of him, the |
| Kart Circuit in his home county. It wasn't long | | | | only way seems to be up for Lewis Hamilton, the |
| before he started to match his namesake's | | | | ordinary boy-done-good from Hertfordshire who |
| winning ways and at the age of ten he knew just | | | | has already, and will continue to inspire thousands |
| what he wanted to be when he grew up: | | | | of parents and children, showing them that |
| approaching Ron Dennis, McLaren Formula One | | | | nothing is impossible and that dreams really can be |
| boss, for an autograph he bluntly told him he | | | | achieved if you work hard enough at achieving |
| would one day be racing his cars! | | | | them. |
| As Hamilton's dream of making a career in motor | | | | |