Echuca go-karter Daniel Zandt is gearing up for the most important race of his life when he competes at the 2013 Rotax Karting Nationals on the weekend.
Australia’s best go-karters will descend on Hume International Raceway at Puckapunyal, vying for a place at the Rotax grand finals in the US in November.
Zandt will race 50 other drivers in his Junior Rotax class, with Saturday’s qualifying round set to cut the number to 44 ahead of Sunday’s final.
While Zandt knows it will be an extremely tough field to beat, the 15-year-old will be setting his sights on a ‘‘top 20 finish’’.
‘‘That’s what I’m aiming for,’’ Zandt said.
‘‘My focus is going into that qualifying race first, so I can at least make it through to the final.
‘‘I will be against drivers who have been racing karts nearly all their lives, since they were six years old, which is when you’re allowed to start racing.
‘‘I’ve been doing it since I was 12, so it will be my hardest race so far.
‘‘I’m nervous but as soon as I get to the track, I should be okay.’’
It has been a swift rise through the junior ranks for Zandt, impressing at a district and state level during his short, but successful, career in the motorsport.
Zandt, whose home club is Rochester Kart Club, claimed his third-consecutive club championship this year, while a podium finish at the recent Victorian Karting Series booked him the spot on the grid in this weekend’s meet.
Zandt’s achievements prompted the transition to the Rotax class in February, which has been a considerable jump in difficulty for the young driver.
At speeds exceeding 100km/ h, Zandt said the higher level had tested him ‘‘mentally and physically’’.
‘‘This is the ultimate level for juniors,’’ Zandt said.
‘‘The karts are completely different to drive and are a lot faster.
‘‘So much concentration is needed.
‘‘After long races, the entire sides of my body are completely black and blue from bruising.
‘‘I also have to wear a neck brace because at those speeds, the force around corners can be quite excessive.’’
Zandt hopes his go-karting success will eventually lead to a career racing V8 Supercars.
For that to happen, the speedster will need to progress to Formula 4s which, according to Zandt, has been the pathway for many current Supercar drivers.
