How can a country that struggles to make it mark on the international sporting scene have so many motor sport champions?
Brazilian champions Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet had a wealthy family to finance their considerable expenses as they climbed to the top of the prestigious motor sport ladder. But British champions had a much harder time. Damon Hill was penniless when he started racing, despite his father’s achievements on the track. Lewis Hamilton’s father financed his son by taking on several jobs to enable his son to practice on his local karting track and Jenson Button’s father’s pockets were not deep enough despite his forays into the world of Rally Driving
You would be right to look for the answer at your local go karting circuit where children as young as eight years, and on some tracks even younger, can get behind the wheel of a go kart and feel the thrill of racing at a very young age and their parents can see if they have any talent before applying for a loan or a second job to finance their rise to fame and glory.
We spoke to Karting Nation, the UK’s only network of karting circuits for their take on Jenson Button’s success. Their spokesperson said: ‘This country has a huge numbers of karting circuits, both outdoor and indoor. We have the best of them on our network. Jenson Button, like Lewis Hamilton, had the advantage of access to karting tracks up-and-down the country to hone their skills on their way to the top. Many countries only have tracks for an annual spectacular of motor sports so we are lucky here. A future champion will show their potential very early on and if it is there the atmosphere of a karting track – the smells, the rush of adrenalin – will get into their blood and they will be hooked. It is very easy to get your kids booked in just visit www.karting-nation.co.uk and check out the circuit nearest to you. Good luck!’
So British racing fans can celebrate the achievements of the last two world champions, and maybe be involved in the next generation training hard to join them. But, be warned, other countries are seeing the pattern of success too and will be getting their youngsters booked into go karting at the earliest opportunity. Most of them have a way to travel to get to their local circuits but it is all about determination and persistence and for that the rewards will be great.
Congratulations Jenson!
Is there a champion in you? Click here to find your local karting track to find out.
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