MADRID, April 21, 2008 (AFP) - The nine-year-old son of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is competing in a karting championship in Spain, a Spanish newspaper said Monday.

Schumacher enrolled his son, Mick, in the RACC Open in the northeastern region of Catalonia, the sports newspaper AS said.

It said he chose to have his son compete in Spain to protect him from publicity in his native Germany.

Mick Schumacher is racing under his mother´s maiden name and is being accompanied by his grandfather, AS said.

He finished 10th and 8th on the Sils circuit at the weekend. He is to take part in three more races.