Patients at the Oxford Children's Hospital were thrilled to meet a Formula One star of the future.

Brazilian racing driver Lucas di Grassi is part of the Renault Driver Development programme, based in Enstone, and affiliated to the ING Renault F1 Team.

Mr di Grassi was runner-up in the 2007 GP2 championship - which serves as a training ground for F1 stars.

Last week, the driver visited the £30m children's hospital on the John Radcliffe site in Headington, with Donna Biskup, Renault F1's Head of human resources.

Mr di Grassi chatted to children and gave out signed baseball caps.

He said: "I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to live out my dream by pursuing my racing career.

"But the determination and courage you have to show at the wheel is nothing compared to what these children tackle and overcome every day.

"It has been a privilege and an inspiration to meet them, and I am proud to be part of a team that is committed to supporting the local community."

One of the children who met Mr di Grassi was Orlando Ross, nine, who has Type 1 diabetes, and was at the hospital for a check-up.

Orlando, from Langford, near Carterton, said: "I met a racing driver who signed a hat for me. It was brilliant!"

Matthew Holder-Wooloff, 13, from Bicester, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in February, said: "I watch some of the big F1 races on TV so I really enjoyed meeting the driver - it was a really nice surprise."

Peter Richards, a consultant neurosurgeon who showed the visitors around, said: "It was brilliant to see the way the children's faces lit up. Lucas's visit really did provide a fun distraction for them."

The driver also visited the hospital's terrace play-area which the team has sponsored, and saw some young patients test-drive mini-Formula One cars.

Andrew House, of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds, said: "Renault F1 Team have been great supporters of our £15m fundraising campaign to build the children's hospital, by making a very significant donation and also giving us these fun toy cars, which the children love.

"It was great to be able to show Lucas and Donna what a difference their support has made. Donations like theirs have enabled us to create one of the best children's hospitals in the country."

The children's hospital opened in January and has already treated tens of thousands of patients.

The Chox campaign to raise £15m, half the cost of building the hospital, has now hit the £13.6m mark.

If you would like to support Chox, contact Penny Hambridge on 01865 743445 or visit the website at www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/getinvolved