CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!

THERE is a steely glint in Lewis Hamilton's eye as the countdown towards the opening Grand Prix in Australia begins.

In less than three months time he will be returning to Bahrain aiming to go one better in the placings at the home of motor racing in the Middle East as well in the driver's championship by the end of the season.

Just 12 months ago he was stepping out as a novice although the first hints of greatness came at an early age.

As an eight-year-old in his debut kart race just outside London, Lewis Hamilton "was a little spark" recalls Martin Hines, owner of the Zip Kart racing company.

That spark is now in full flame. Hamilton - the first black driver in auto racing's blue-ribbon championship - stunned the world of motor-racing by coming runner-up in an astonishing rookie season in which he lost out by a single point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the final race.

Following a third-place finish during the season opener in Australia, Hamilton sped to second place in Malaysia three weeks later. And by placing second in the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 15, he became the only driver ever to make the podium in his first three races. In total Hamilton reeled off nine podium finishes in succession at the beginning of the year, unprecedented for a rookie, and took four wins from his 17 starts.

"I wouldn't say that what happened last year was a blow, but you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel anything," remarked Hamilton.

"But I've recovered from it and I feel even stronger, mentally and physically, and now I'm just excited and even more determined than I have been in the past.

"Perhaps the experience of last year has encouraged that because it was a steep learning curve. But, if anything, I just grew up, as a person and as a driver, and that was the aim.

"With any experience, good or bad, you learn from it and then look forward.

"This year, I feel more at home, more confident and more relaxed, and even more sure of what I want."

Hamilton celebrated his 23rd birthday last week by showing off the MP4-23 car that McLaren hope will take him to the Formula One title as the youngest champion this season.

The Briton said he was more determined and hungrier than ever.

"I honestly feel stronger. I feel great right now. I've done a lot of really good preparation already and I just believe that it's a fresh start for us all, turning over a new leaf. I can't wait to get back into the car and I'm extremely excited about the first race."

Hamilton's debut proved the highlight of a traumatic year for McLaren, who were fined $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points for a spying controversy over leaked Ferrari data.

Now cast as team leader on the track after the departure of Spain's unhappy double world champion Fernando Alonso back to Renault, Hamilton said he would take the same approach to his racing as last year.

"Fingers crossed, but with the same sort of mentality and determination I think we can do well," he said. "I thoroughly enjoyed last year, just the whole year. It was just the best year of my life but I know it can be better."

Hamilton has a new team mate, Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn whose place at Renault was taken by Alonso and who joins McLaren with an assurance of equal treatment. He said: "I have exactly the same opportunity as Lewis has and then it's up to me."

Last week's launch was low on fanfare, a marked contrast to the circus and fireworks that followed last year's floodlit street racing extravaganza in Valencia, and represented a return to fundamentals.

Stuttgart, home of the team's 40 per cent stakeholders and engine partners Mercedes, was chosen as launch venue for the first time in what some saw as a sign of the changing balance of power within the team.

"We are determined to lead the field this season," Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche told the audience. "Lewis has already publicly promised to bring home the bacon in 2008 and we will do whatever we can to help him fulfil this promise."

F1 insiders believe next year's big launch could be staged at the Bahrain International Circuit as Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding, a company wholly owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, now holds a 30 per cent stake in McLaren.

But hearts and minds, however, are currently concentrating on the coming season and McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said the new car, pictured above, looked promising already.

"We already know that the car is quicker than the one we raced in Brazil (at the end of last season)," he said. "There's a lot more lap time to be added to the car before the start of the season."

The first race is in Australia on March 16. The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at the BIC on April 4, 5 and 6.