Hi, thank you for visiting my site and taking the time to read this.

I am known as Zenico, I am 13 years old and started Karting in 2022. This is my journey

2024: A Year of Growth and Achievement in My Karting Journey

2024 has truly been an unforgettable year in my karting journey, filled with both unexpected challenges and exciting milestones. As a family, we’ve been reviewing various arrive-and-drive karting options, which I’ve really enjoyed. These experiences have helped me further refine my driving skills and exposed me to different tracks and kart setups. It's been a great way to sharpen my reflexes and broaden my racing knowledge outside of formal championships.

I transitioned into the R200 class in late 2023, and from the moment I got behind the wheel, I knew this class was something special. The power, speed, and competitive edge of the R200 really resonated with me. I had been preparing to take on the UKC in the R200 class, excited to test my limits at a national level. However, just as I was gearing up for the championship, the UKC announced that they would be dropping the R200 class from their lineup. This was a significant blow to my plans, but as we all know, racing is full of curveballs, and adaptability is key.

Faced with a tough decision, I pivoted to the Rotax Inter class just a week before the UKC championship kicked off. Switching classes with such short notice was a daunting challenge—especially as I had minimal experience in the Inter class and had never raced on many of the tracks featured in the championship. Despite these hurdles, I threw myself into the competition, determined to make the most of the opportunity. To my surprise and delight, I managed to complete the UKC championship with a 14th-place seed! Given the circumstances and the level of competition, this result was a personal victory for me, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

But my karting journey didn’t stop with the UKC. Alongside competing at the national level, I’ve been active in grassroots racing, which continues to be a core part of my racing development. These local races have allowed me to build a strong foundation and keep refining my racecraft. I currently hold the prestigious “BM” plate for the R200 class at Bayford Meadows, a track that’s become one of my favorites. In addition, I’ve been competing in the Rotax Inter at Red Lodge Karting, where I earned the highly sought-after “0” plate. Balancing both national-level racing with grassroots competitions has given me a unique perspective and honed my skills in ways I never expected.

Supporting Autism in motorsports continues to be a cause that is extremely close to my heart. Throughout 2024, I’ve been fortunate to advocate for and raise awareness of this important issue, ensuring that motorsports become a more inclusive environment for everyone. This mission fuels me as much as my love for racing, and I’m grateful for the platform I’ve been given to make a difference.

2024 has been a whirlwind year, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Competing in the UKC has taught me valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and perseverance. The racecraft I developed during the national championship has significantly improved my performances at club-level races, and it’s been fulfilling to see that growth translate into success.

As I look toward 2025, there are some exciting decisions ahead. I’m still weighing my options and deciding which national championship to pursue next. It’s a big decision, but I’m excited about the possibilities and eager to continue pushing my limits in the karting world.

Beyond my own racing, I’ve been fortunate to witness the progress of the Zenico Racing family and those we support. Seeing the growth and success of my teammates and those we mentor has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a reminder of the impact we can have as a community and the importance of fostering talent at all levels of motorsport.

One person I’m particularly excited to see develop is my best friend, Fletcher. He’s been working hard to gain his racecraft skills at the grassroots level, and it’s been inspiring to watch his dedication and progress. I can’t wait to see him take on his first championship in 2025 as he prepares to compete in the Junior Karting Championships. It’s going to be a thrilling year, and I’m honored to be part of his journey as he steps into the competitive world of karting.

2024 has been an amazing chapter in my karting career, filled with highs and challenges that have made me a stronger and more versatile racer. I’m excited for what lies ahead in 2025 and ready to tackle whatever comes next with the same passion and determination that’s fueled me this year.

2023 Progress

I am not very good at writing things like this, so my dad has helped me fill in a few gaps, I hope it makes sense

I have always loved fast things, I have a Suzuki quad that my mum and dad gave me for one of my birthdays, but I really couldn’t use it in our garden and I wanted more speed and challenging things to do with it.

I remember Dad once built me an obstacle course in the garden for it, so I was more challenged, but I still wanted more!

One of my friends does motor-cross, and I wanted to try that, so one day I asked my dad if he could buy me a bike. 

He was not impressed and said he would rather I remained on four wheels. He said I should try go-karting again, as I did go once to a track, but the karts were slow, the track was small, and the karts were not that well maintained so would bog out and I just didn’t feel it, but dad convinced me to try again.

My mum booked me and my friend Fletch (FGKARTING) into what was called an “Academy session” at our local track called Bayford Meadows in Sittingbourne, our first time on the track was in November 2022. 

Both I and Fletch are small for our age, we were novices and new, so we were put into the small karts to start, we used the tracks supplied suits and helmets, but they didn’t fit very well due to my size, so mum had to role up my legs!

The first time I pressed the accelerator, the feeling was amazing, but I wanted to go faster, and as the Kart was for novices it was slow. I think I annoyed a few of the more experienced kids as I was new and kept up with them, even though I was in a smaller kart.

Immediately, I was hooked!

When the sessions finished, I couldn’t wait to go again, so, both Fletch and me asked if we could do it again at the next academy.

Mum, Dad, and Fletcher's parents agreed, and we were booked in for another session. Every day leading up to the next session, I would wake up dreaming of Karting, I started to watch YouTube videos and find Karters on TikTok to watch.

My grandad Wayne was nuts about Formula One, and as a baby, I used to sit with him watching it. I didn’t really understand it, but I liked watching it. As I grew older, my grandad would always talk to me about it, but I really never got it, but once I was the hire kart, I started to realise why he loved it so much!

Dreams of becoming involved in motorsports started to pop into my mind!

As the next date for the academy came closer, Fletcher and I would talk about it, and how much we could not wait. The day came, I found the smallest suit I could, got into the Kart, and raced! 

I remember my Dad telling me that one of the marshals spoke with him and said that I was fast and showed great potential and that if I was to hit a certain lap time, he should consider looking into ownerkarts.

The day was amazing, I was in the top few lap times and I was just buzzing with adrenaline, a feeling I had never really had before.

Mum and Dad took me on a 3rd academy session, but this time, I hit that golden lap time and was the fastest on the track. I asked my dad if I could have my own kart, and he said he would consider it for my birthday, but that was in September, it was a long way away!

At Christmas, all I wanted was my own Kart suit and my own helmet. Christmas morning came, and under the tree were my very own Kart suit and karting shoes, they were second-hand, but they were mine! 

What I didn’t know, is that my Mummy, Daddy, nanny, and grandad have clubbed together and I got a brand new karting Helmet, then a new pair of karting Gloves from my other nanny!!

I put them straight on, looked in the mirror and I felt like I had the best gear ever, I was a real racer!

We continued with the academy sessions, improving every time we went on the track, and in January 2023, I heard my mum and dad talking about owner-karting! 

I couldn’t believe my ears, were they really considering buying me my own Kart??

At the end of January, we went to the race track and watched an owner's day, seeing the Karts and the speeds they were going, I soooo wanted my own Kart, but I knew they were expensive, and I didn’t expect one.

After watching some of the Karts, Mum and Dad took me to the Go-Kart shop that was on the Paddock, it is called ‘Project One”. I thought we were just going in to talk, but I was taken into the workshop, and sitting there was a Honda Cadet! 

It was on a trolley, but Dad picked me up, I sat in it, and he told me it was mine!

It was amazing, but in the back of my mind, I really wanted a Rotax as I had seen them on the track, but as I was so small, I had to have a Cadet. I was sad, but I still couldn’t believe what was happening and was so pleased to have a Kart! Dad could have put me in any Kart, and I would have been happy, but this one felt part of me already. It was mine, and I just wanted to get it home!

Project one weighed me, and said they would set up the Kart to fit just me! Dad took some photos, and we left the shop. I was so happy!

The next thing though, is we didn’t have anything to transport the kart, so Dad got on the case, and he started to try and find a cheap trailer.

He swiftly found one on Facebook, and we drove for what seemed miles to go get it. 

We bought it home and Dad and I started to convert it so it could fit my Kart, I was happy that we now had something that could transport my new kart!

The day came in February when we could go pick up my Cadet. We went into the shop, I sat in the Kart, and the final adjustments were made, I was amazed at how much lead they had strapped to it!  

I was so happy it was now mine and in our hands 

As soon as we got it home, I put my helmet on, Dad put the Kart on the ground and I was able to quickly drive it around our close outside the house, it fitted like a glove! It felt part of me.

Now all I had to do was to wait for the next owner day to get out on the track!

The day was here, February 2023 and it was owners' day time! My best friend Fletcher (FGKarting) came with me as well. Dad did his best to sort out my CADET, he didn’t really know what he was doing, but he asked lots of people and they helped him. He pushed my Kart to the pits, I sat in the seat, and Dad started the Engine. The feeling of anxiety, fear, and anticipation was an amazing feeling and once I got waved onto the track, it was time to experience my first time out.

That was it, the speed, the feel and everything just felt right, the Kart felt like it was part of me.

We continued Owner days whilst I still used the Hire Karts to learn more and I am currently placed 3rd overall in the Bayford meadows Summer Cup with two more events to go.

My family would come to see me all the time, especially my Grandad Wayne who loved F1. Grandad Wayne used to watch me in the hire karts, I was so proud to show him what I could do!

But, then we had devastating news, my grandad was diagnosed with incurable Cancer, and 5 weeks later, he passed away without ever seeing me in my own kart, but I did manage to see him in the hospital in my race gear and show him my trophies from the Bayford Meadows summer cup.

I continued to practice, getting as much seat time as I could in preparation for my ARKS license.

In August 2023 I took my ARKS license and the following day I raced in my first-ever UK Motorsport event with my friend Fletcher. I don’t know who was more nervous, my mum, or my dad, I had never seen my dad nervous before!

On my first qualifying, I managed to get position 2! I was so pleased

Then my first real race! Over the day I pushed hard, but I knew I had a lot to learn as the other kids on the track we much more experienced than me, but I still managed to get 3rd on the podium. I was fast, and only split seconds behind the leader, but my skills need to improve and I know that will come with more time in the race seat.

My Grandad would have been so proud.

My journey now continues, I aim to get better every time I get on the track.

My dream is to participate in the UK karting championships and later this year I will hopefully be moving into another class, I just need to keep drinking my health shakes and eating well to get my weight up!

I hope you enjoyed my initial journey into Karting and I know my Dad will keep you all updated with Blogs and his “Parents' Advice”

I'm not the best at writing things, but I will also do my best to make some blogs, the one thing I know I’m good at! And that’s learning to race!!!!

Thankyou for reading

Zenico