A Cumbrian teenager drove one of the world's fastest Italian supercars - the day before he turned 17.

Matthew McDonald, from Egremont, got into the driver's seat for the first time on Saturday in a Lamborghini Superleggera - which can reach 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 202mph - for the unforgettable experience.

He was among 300 people who were treated to a drive in one of six high-performance sports cars at Kirkbride Airfield as Supercarworld UK launched its debut racing event.

There was a smell of petrol and tyres in the air as Cumbrians took to the runway in a choice of the Lamborghini, a Ferrari 458, Audi R8, Aston Martin VB Vantage, a Nisson GTR or the Lotus Elise race car.

It was also a spectacle for those who came to watch their friends and family speed down the track.

Matthew, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, was given the experience as an early birthday present from his aunt and uncle.

"Amazing," he said summing it up.

"I was quite nervous at the start but as the laps got on it was really powerful and a good experience.

"I've been go-karting before and I didn't know if it would be like that.

"I felt my head jerk back and it was really powerful."

Matthew is planning to take his first lesson in March but he's already planning to return to the airfield for a spin in the Ferrari 458.

Lewis Todhunter got the chance to really feel the speed the cars can reach, when he had a passenger experience in the Lotus Elise.

The 15-year-old, from Farlam, near Brampton, said: "I like cars and I thought it was just going to be the average ride but it was really fun. It was worth the experience.

"It was unbelievable. I felt like everything was rushing about in my body when my adrenaline was going.

"I would recommend it to loads of people."

Supercarworld UK will now be based at the airfield for two days - Friday and Saturday - every month, with the next event on April 7 and 8.

Dumfries racing driver Scott Robson, co-director of the company, explained that the combined price of the cars on offer was more than £1m.

"You can drive a £250,000 car for £49," he said.

"You're driving something you'd never get a chance to drive. You normally see these cars but never sit in them and never drive them.

"It's like a different world to normal cars. It's a real experience. We do it all the time but you still get a bit of a smile on your face when you get in a supercar."

He and business partner Andy Gordon launched Supercarworld UK six months ago after recognising there wasn't the opportunity anywhere else in the county. They also have a base in Fife, Scotland.

Scott, of Dumfries, explained that Kirkbride was a "good find" as many airfields were tarmacked in World War Two and have had little maintenance.

"Because nothing has been like this in Cumbria before we thought we could give people something different," he said.

"We got the numbers we were hoping for. We didn't want to be full the first day and even Saturday wasn't to capacity but it takes a while to get the format right.

"We're really happy with the response."