The pair met the press, including our Lynn News photographer Paul Tibbs, when the talented teenager's route to the high-octane world of the Grand Prix circus moved up a gear.

Alex starts his second full season in single-seater racing cars this weekend at the first round of the 2008 Formula Palmer Audi Championship at Donington Park.

When he and the rest of the young contenders gathered at Bedford Autodrome to give their cars a public airing, Martin went along too in the role of expert adviser...and proud father.

Alex said: "Last year was a steep learning curve for me as it was my first season in FPA but now I feel much more settled in my car and my confidence has grown."

Martin started his racing career the hard way in grass track racing, driving a car he built himself. He clawed his way up through the ranks to become a successful Formula One driver, a Le Mans winner and is now a household name as arguably the best and wittiest racing commentator on TV.

Alex started in kart racing and has always had the full support of his father but he would never have got this far without inborn talent and he has set his sights firmly on Formula One.

His idols? His father, of course, and David Coulthard.

But for now, he is concentrating on the coming season. Formula Palmer Audi has become accepted as one of the best training grounds for young racing drivers – mainly because it provides a unique, level playing field for true talent to shine through.

With a gridful of identical specification cars, each competitior has the chance to prove their worth based on driving skills rather than technical advantages.

Each car has 300 bhp on tap from a 1.8 litre Audi engine and an overboost which increases power to 360 bhp in short bursts when it is needed.

Maybe in the future we will see Martin interviewing his own son during his traditional walkabout on a Formula One starting grid.