The 'slow coach' school bus driver who is Grandpa of racing star Hamilton

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In fact, his careful, under-30mph driving as he negotiates his school bus on the twisting roads of the Caribbean island of Grenada has earned him the nickname 'slowcoach'.

• Exclusive video: Watch 12-year-old Lewis go-carting

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Slow coach: Davidson Hamilton

It's hard to think that his grandson, British-born Lewis Hamilton, 22, is the first black man to hit the motor-racing big time.

In Australia last month, in his debut grand prix, Lewis was third, becoming the youngest driver ever to stand on the winners' podium.

Then, a week ago, he became the first driver since 1964 to begin his career with successive podiums, finishing second in Malaysia.

Today he will be going for a hat trick in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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His world-beating performances have their origin thousands of miles away, where his 77-year-old grandfather drives his 17-seat minibus.

Davidson wasn't always slow. "I used to be known across the island as the fastest thing on the west coast," he recalls.

"In 1947, I bought a motorcycle and I was a bit of a road hog. People would say, "Clear the way. Davidson is coming."'

In 1955, Davidson emigrated for a while to Britain, where he fell foul of the traffic police.

"I was going to Folkestone when I passed a speed cop in the hedgerow,' he said.

"I got my one speeding ticket. I slowed down after that. Lewis has started off like his grandfather. It is not surprising to me that he likes the speed."

The young McLaren star has invited his grandfather and wife Uelisia to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July - and if Davidson can get time off from taking the children of the local village, Grand Roy, to school, he'll be racing to get there.