ULLADULLA’S Jacque Isarin has taken to the podium at the State Karting Championships and is now preparing to race in front of 4000 people on the Gold Coast.
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The 17-year-old said 2017 had seem him become “more consistent” on the track and was now “addicted” to the sport.
“Now I have the need for speed, I always want to go faster and do better,” he said.
“It’s all about being smooth on the steering wheel.
“My current class reaches a top speed of 110km/h.
“This year I have managed to be more consistent and finish all of my races. I haven’t won all of my rounds but I have got into the top five each round, which is how I managed to place second in the championship.
“I was coming third in the championship coming into the last round, so I wanted to try and do the best I could to see where I could finish overall.
“I placed second in every race in the final round.”
Each heat consists of about 18 laps, with finals seeing karts complete 32 laps. Isarin said strength training was key to having the endurance to complete the races.
“You start getting tired in your arms and you can’t hold onto the steering wheel much longer.
“You have to work on strength training to go better in the longer races,” he said.
Along with his dad, Isarin practiced for race days whenever he could.
“When we have a spare weekend we will go to Eastern Creek, Canberra or Picton and spend a day on the track to try different things with the kart,” he said.
“We make tweaks to try and make it faster.”
Isarin will travel to the Gold Coast this week to compete in the invite only Race of Stars competition in front of 4000 spectators.
“It will be the biggest race I have done,” he said.
“They have international racers and I have a field of 33 in my class. It would be great to finish in the top 10. Anything higher than that I would be very happy with.
“There are a lot of fast drivers there that raced in the Australian Championship throughout the year.”
Proud mum Monique said it was “nerve racking” watching her son.
Although expensive, she said it was a great sport to be involved in.
A set of tyres is $270, while a chassis sets the family back $5500.
Isarin is hoping for community support.
Phone Monique on 0422 481 557.
Emily Barton
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
