- There will be three categories in the season ender
- KMSF want to increase Go Karting events
- Most revered rally aces have started off in Go Karting
In asphalt racing, cruising inches away from a competitor requires a unique ability. This is for the simple reason that wheel-to-wheel adroitness and precision require certain amounts of grit and levelheadedness.
In Kenya, the kids driving go-karts are equally enthusiastic and continue to transform their asphalt driving skills at a phenomenal rate.
So, to say that karting has made drivers of global repute is an understatement- this admirable form of circuit racing has actually produced world-beaters who continue to ruffle feathers at breakneck speeds!
Multiple Safari and Kenya Champion Baldev Singh Chager, Jeremiah Wahome (former British Formula 3 Championship racer, now rallying in the FIA African series) and Tejas Hirani who savored a glorious stint in the prestigious World RX Lites Championship- all realized their potentials in motorsport as a karters below the ages of 10 years.
In fact, the present day generation of Formula One drivers started karting between three and sixteen.
The four most successful Formula One drivers, including Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), Fernando Alonso (Alpine), and Max Verstappen (Red Bull), started racing Go-Karts before six.
Rightly so, the Karting Commission of the Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) has kindled expectations that they must now strive to live up to as they envisage value addition to it’s structures, hence the long search for Kenya’s first Formula One driver.
Journey a dream come true
Norris Ongalo of the Karting Commission reckons that the journey to the summit of the coveted formula asphalt space of motoring is a dream come true to any competitor globally.
Ongalo continues to extol initiatives of the “FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One” which is a program developed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and tailormade to assist racing drivers progress from karting to Formula One.
The program was first developed in 2014 with the creation of the Formula 4 category, and follows a tiered structure, with drivers racing in increasingly-powerful cars.
The Global Pathway represents the consolidation of feeder series to create a more linear approach to progressing into Formula One.
Ongalo singles out karting as a good breeding ground for future Motorsports stars.
He is excited by the fact that children from a tender age of 5 years can start competitive racing on asphalt tracks.
Ongalo also notes that the various classes are designed based on age “and as such participants in each class learn to compete amongst their age sets.”
“Karting teaches the children good car control. Due to the low centre of gravity of the karts, the kids are able to negotiate the tight corners at a high speed.”
Teaches children planning
‘Karting is also a non-contact sport. Given that the children race in groups, this teaches them to plan their manoeuvres hence growing their driving lines.”
“As they grow through the classes, the children as young as 12 years are able to dictate their preferred kart setup (gearing, camber/caster, tyre pressures etc). They are able to manage engine temperatures and carburettor settings while racing,” Ongalo narrated.
Meanwhile, Whistling Moran’s is the venue for this weekends final two rounds of the Kenya National Karting Championship.
In the Bambino Class, iIt’s Bixente Rio Wyles’ to lose. He has over 90 points in the lead. There is a maximum of 210 points to be grabbed in the last two rounds this weekend. If he wins one of the rounds, he just needs to finish in whatever position in the other round.
In the Cadet Class, the tussle is between Shane Chandaria and Wendell Olendo. Shane has a lead of over 70 points. This means they have a similar scenario as that of Bambino.
ROTAX JUNIOR CLASS is very close between Walt Alobo and Krrish Vadgama with the former ahead with just 32 points. For Walt to clinch it, he must either win one round and finish in top three in the other one or ensures that if Krrish wins both, he comes second in both and someone else except Krrish gets the bonus points for the fastest lap.
Krrish on the other side needs to win both rounds and get the fastest laps for both; or wins one and comes second in another while Walt finishes outside the podium on both days. There are more permutations between the two, making this weekend a nail-biting and nervy one.
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