Karting sensation gets go at bigtime
REMEMBER the name Alice Buckley.
This week the Gold Coast kart racing sensation was selected as one of just 20 female karters worldwide to join the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars program – a new project to detect and nurture the future of female racing talent.
The 12-year-old beat hundreds of karters to earn her spot in the program which will see successful applicants participate in a Shootout at the Winfield Racing School at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France in October.
The two overall winners will make history as the first female drivers to attend the Ferrari Driver Academy, putting them on the fast track to Formula 1.
Since starting to race karts at the age of seven, Buckley has gone on to carve out a successful national career.
She was the fastest qualifier in the Race of Stars in 2019 and won the Bridgestone Supercup in 2019 but nothing beats finding out she had booked her place in the rising stars program.
“I went out for breakfast with Mum and Dad and they took me to my grandparents’ house because my parents wanted to announce it in front of the whole family,” Buckley said.
“I started crying and was so excited because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“It’s going to be an amazing opportunity and it gives me something to train for and become a stronger driver physically and mentally.”
Buckley’s karting career began on her seventh birthday when she headed down to her local track with her family, including her father who is a former Australian champion. She competed in her first race a few months later in Lismore and finished third despite spinning out several times in the wet.
Now she has the chance to take one step closer to her Formula 1 dream.
“It would mean the world to me (eventually becoming a Formula 1 driver) because there has been no one who’s been able to accomplish that and I’ve love to prove a point to all the boys and support more girls getting into the sport,” she said.
I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE IT’S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.
ALICE BUCKLEY