Looking back 2023

2023 was the year I convinced mum to let me start go karting. There was so much more to the sport then I thought, so much to learn. This was the best thing I have ever done!

My dream has always been to be a race car driver. I had my first quad bike at 2 years old. I rode dirt bikes on our farm, mastered the zero turn mower at 5 and was even able to use our excavator.

My goals when I started out was to go fast and not crash. From the moment I got in my kart I loved it and was hooked. I had found my passion and started making plans into my future.

Mum is my mechanic and team manager. Once she saw that I could actually go fast, stay on the track and keep up with the others we made plans and were away. Our goals for 2023 were to:

• Get on a podium

• Finish at Ipswich (the most technical and competitive track in Australia) in the middle of the field of 40

• Find a coach

• Fine tune and hone my driving skills

It was an awesome year. We entered my first race on my birthday 23rd April, 2023. 23 become my racing number. In 2023 we attended 19 race meets and I started 63 races.

I found a coach in Jess Golding and was asked to join her race team for 2024. I got 2 medal on my provisional licence plates, had 2 podium finishes and was awarded Junior Development driver of the year for Ipswich Kart Club.

Some other great things happened in 2023 because of karting. My school Miami High started supporting my karting and gave me flexible learning options to attend races and training. My grades for 2023 have been my best ever. I now have all A's and B's. For someone with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia (it's really difficult for me to read and write) that is pretty great.

2023 has been the best year of my life. I have found my passion, what I am really good at and I can't wait until 2024.