Kart racing sensation Cian is enjoying his life in the fast lane
YOUNG CHAMPION IS HOPING TO BECOME AN F1 DRIVER ONE DAY
A 12-YEAR-OLD Kart Racing sensation is hoping to follow in the slip steam of BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lewis Hamilton.
Cian Geraghty, from the Leicestershire village of Norton-Juxta-Twycross, is already a champion in his sport but his long-term goal is to become an F1 driver.
He said: “My passion for motor sport started from as early as I can remember, watching the Grand Prix on the telly and then going to Silverstone to watch the actual race.
“My dad then took me karting and as soon as I sat in the kart I knew that racing was always going to be part of my life. “I find it exhilarating being able to be at one with the kart, driving fast around the track, and racing against others. Cian started racing karts at the start of 2018 when he was 10 years old.
He started in Cadets (ages eight to 12) at club level, which required Cian to obtain his race licence via a combination of both theory and track tests. It was in his second season, when he joined his current team Jack Dex Racing, that Cian’s potential started to deliver results and trophies.
He was crowned the Shenington Kart Club 2019 Iame Cadet Champion, and achieved fourth place in the Whilton Mill Kart Club 2019 championship.
A move up earlier than his age required to the more powerful and faster Mini X Junior Karts in 2020 has resulted in many wins across various championships.
Cian became Shenington Kart Club 2020 Mini X Champion, Whilton Mill Kart Club 2020 Mini X Champion, as well as gaining a creditable third place in the National Autumn Cup series run at the spectacular PFI circuit in Lincolnshire.
Cian also managed to get a spot due to a delayed date – but requiring a change of class to Mini Max – for a one-off in the fourth and final round of the British Rotax Championship, in which he finished fourth and achieved the fastest lap.
Next year, Cian will again move up early to the full Junior Spec Iame Karts for the Shenington
Kart Club. If he wins the championship on his maiden move up again, he will become the champion at three different levels for the third year in a row.
Cian will also continue with his Mini X racing and will have a shot at either the Full Junior British Championships, or the Junior European Championships, depending on the Covid pandemic situation.
Cian said: “In the future my first aim would be to repeat my successes at club level racing and nationally and then move on to Europe hopefully, starting in 2021.
“My future goal would be to gain my car licence at 16 and take my skills from karting into cars, ultimately getting a drive in single-seaters with a professional team.
“My absolute ultimate goal is to get a drive with an F1 team.”