LONDON, June 21 - Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to make a mistake in a grand prix race, crashed a go-kart that had been sold at a charity auction for 42,100 pounds ($83,860) on Thursday.

British Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton drives his go-kart in central London June 21, 2007. The go-kart was auctioned for 42,100 pounds on eBay for the baby charity Tommy's. [Reuters]

"Oops, that was close," the 22-year-old McLaren rookie said after hitting the barriers on the temporary track laid out in a central London square at a promotional event organised by sponsor Vodafone.

"It's a bit bent on the back here," he added apologetically after inspecting the kart which was bought by a Northern Irish bidder.

Hamilton has finished on the podium after all seven of his starts and has won the last two races from pole position in Canada and the United States.

The Briton is 10 points clear of team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso.