Updated on Monday, July 31, 2006, 00:00 IST

Chennai, July 31: Four-year-old Kathiresh is just another toy-savvy toddler except the for the fact that while his friends play with fake cars, Kathiresh drives the real thing.

Studying in lower Kinder Garden in southern Chennai, the child has taken a fascination for driving at the age of three and half years, claims his father.

"Three months before, out of his own interest he told me he wants to drive. Next day onwards I started training him. On the 29th day he started driving just like any other experienced driver. He can drive anywhere or everywhere without anybody's help," said Vijaykumar, father of Kathiresh.

With four hours of training everyday, Keethresh can today drive at a speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43.5 miles per hour) and can continuously drive for 32 kilometres (approximately 20), adds his father.

Although his son's talent gives a great sense of pride to Vijaykumar, but Indian law d s not allow anyone below the age of 18 years to drive around.

"The act says that no one drives without proper driving licenses - that license age is fixed by the Government of India. So no one else should drive on the public roads. The act only talks about the public road and d s not bothers driving in private roads," said Shanmugasundaram, Regional Transport Officer, Chennai.

Having Formula-1 legend Narain Karthikeyan in mind, Keethresh talks of becoming a car racer, if not a pilot.

Bureau Report