2023 – The Year I Learned How to Race

In 2022, I was still learning how to race a go-kart. But in 2023, I didn't just want to drive around the track anymore. I wanted to fight for positions, overtake other drivers and, of course, win races.

I just didn't know how much I still had to learn. 😄

A Bigger Kart That Scared Me a Little at First

In February, we travelled to Alberone in Italy to train with ROTU Karting Team.

We had problems with my original kart, so the team prepared an Easykart 60 for me in about half an hour.

It was completely different from the Baby 50.

Bigger, heavier and much faster.

I have to admit, I was a little scared at first. But the more laps I drove, the more comfortable I became.

At our next training camp, we drove more than 500 kilometres, and I was reaching speeds of around 85 km/h.

That's pretty fast when you're only six or seven years old!

Two Championships, Two Different Challenges

In 2023, I raced in two different series.

In the Slovenský kartingový pohár (SKP), the Slovak karting cup, I continued racing in the Baby 50 category. This time, I wanted to get some good results.

In the Moravský pohár, I raced in Easykart 60. That was mainly about learning, because I was driving a more powerful kart against bigger and more experienced drivers.

In April, I had my first Moravský pohár race at Slovak Karting Center.

The weather gave us almost everything. Rain, hail, more rain and finally a dry track.

And somehow, nothing was going right for me.

We struggled with the kart setup, and I was really angry with myself. I even cried because I felt I couldn't show what I was actually capable of.

In the end, I finished 14th out of 17 drivers.

That was when I said something I still believe today:

"I don't want to be there just to make up the numbers. I want to fight!"

The Slovak Karting Cup Wasn't Easy Either

In May, the Slovenský kartingový pohár season began.

At Slovak Karting Center, I got into trouble in the very first corner of the first race. I dropped to ninth place, but managed to fight my way back to fourth in just six laps.

In the next race, I was already fighting for second place when our kart suddenly started losing speed.

The mechanics and Dad had a lot to figure out.

At Bruck an der Leitha, I qualified second, but two mistakes meant I finished fourth.

That was one of the things I found really difficult.

When you know you're fast enough, but one little mistake costs you a podium.

Dad kept telling me that this was how I would learn.

But I would have preferred the trophy. 😄

Finally, a Podium!

During the summer, I finished third at Steel Ring in the Slovenský kartingový pohár.

It was my best result so far.

Meanwhile, I was also learning more and more in the Easykart 60. The bigger kart was much harder to drive physically, especially through fast corners and in the summer heat.

At one race, it was 32°C!

But I was slowly getting used to the speed and starting to get closer to the faster drivers.

That Last Corner!

In August, we returned to Bruck an der Leitha for another Slovenský kartingový pohár round.

It became one of the most unforgettable weekends of my season.

Things weren't going well in practice. Our engine wasn't working properly, and I finished only sixth in the first race.

I was so disappointed that I didn't even feel like starting the next race.

Dad told me to go out there and just try to enjoy racing.

Meanwhile, the team fixed the kart.

And suddenly, I was fast again!

I started overtaking, moved up to second place and began chasing the driver in front.

Then came the final lap.

The final corner.

I braked later and managed to get past him!

I won my very first kart race!

By just 0.07 seconds.

That's such a tiny gap that we almost crossed the finish line together.

I finished second overall for the weekend, but that race win meant much more to me.

Finally, I had done it!

Sometimes the Result Isn't the Most Important Thing

I also raced at the same track in Easykart 60, in the Moravský pohár.

There was one boy I battled with in almost every race. Sometimes he overtook me, sometimes I overtook him.

We fought hard, but we raced fairly.

After the race, we shook hands and even gave each other a hug.

We had both enjoyed it so much.

I think that's one of the best things about karting. On the track we're rivals, but afterwards we can still laugh together.

Third Place in the Championship!

In September, it was time for the final round of the Slovenský kartingový pohár.

The goal was clear: finish third overall and qualify for the international Easykart final.

We had more problems with the kart, but in the end, we achieved what we'd been working towards all season.

2023 – Slovenský kartingový pohár, Baby 50: 3rd overall! 🥉

And I also got the chance to travel to Italy for the Easykart Grand Final weekend.

Italy, Franciacorta

In October, we travelled to Franciacorta.

The weather wasn't easy there either. It rained a lot, and I had to keep adapting to the track conditions.

Because of my age, I wasn't allowed to compete in the official Italian race yet, so I took part in race simulations instead.

In the first one, I started near the back and finished sixth.

In the second, I started from second place.

I managed to overtake the driver ahead of me and eventually won by around four or five seconds.

I know it wasn't an official Grand Final victory. But it was still an amazing experience for me.

I also made new friends from different countries.

What Did 2023 Teach Me?

If you only look at the results, I finished third overall in the Slovenský kartingový pohár, won my first race and reached the podium several times.

But I think much more happened than that.

I learned that one fast lap doesn't mean you'll have a good race.

That catching another driver isn't enough. You also have to know how to overtake them.

That sometimes the kart doesn't work properly, sometimes I make mistakes, and sometimes the other driver is simply better.

And that after a bad race, a really good one might be just around the corner.

In 2022, I started karting.

In 2023, I started learning how to really race.

And I couldn't wait to see what 2024 would bring.