KAI Allen has captured the attention of the KartOz Magazine after completing a successful 2017 karting season.
The Mount Gambier driver was relatively new to the Australian karting scene in 2016 but has proved himself on the track placing in a number of championships.
After dominating his own age group, the 12-year-old opted to advance out of his class to test himself against older and more experienced drivers in 2017.
The third-place ranking – which is based on performances over major karting events – was a well-earned result.
In the 2017 season, Allen finished third in the Australian Kart Championship in KA4 Juniors, won the South Australian Kart Championship, Victorian State Cup, City of Adelaide, City of Melbourne and other major races.
He said he hoped to make the top 10 in the KartOz Magazine rankings, after winning it in 2016.
However – with more than 2000 registered go karters in Australia – Allen was pleased with third.
“I was very excited,” he said.
“I just went up from the cadet to the junior class.”
Allen is competing in two junior classes in this year’s Australian Kart Championship – both the A4 Juniors, which is a 100cc engine and KA4, which is an adult gokart with a 125cc engine – and is
currently placed second in each after Round 1 at Monarto in South Australia.
He said he has big expectations for himself this year.
“My goal will be to get in the top three overall for both classes in the Australia Kart Championships,” he said.
Meanwhile, Allen is also set to make a little piece of history when the Australian Formula One Grand Prix revs into action at Melbourne’s Albert Park this weekend.
He has been given the opportunity to head out onto the Albert Park track and rub shoulders with the world’s best as he gets the honour of holding the umbrella for one of the competing drivers.
