Nine years old and already a passion for the racing circuit. We met David Gurtner, a promising young kart driver. After a year in competition, his performances are remarkable… but now he especially hopes to be noticed by possible sponsors in order to pursue his dream. Encounter.
Warm up the engine before leaving for training, check the tire pressure like a grown-up. Several times a month you can find David and his father on this karting circuit in Scientrier in neighboring France. At only 9 years old, the young boy sees this sport as a passion. A discovery that dates back to when he was 5 years old, but he was too young to start racing.
His start in rental karting passed but the passion remained, his dad Didier invested in all the necessary equipment and the famous machine. “When you see that you still need help to attach your helmet but on the circuit he’s driving at 90 or 100 kilometers per hour… it’s weird, yes!” his dad tells us.
Young and full of ambition
David sees himself completely in this environment. “I see myself driving, overtaking second and third and that gives me joy,” he explains. A joy which then translates into performances on the circuit: after a year in competition, David is already 3rd in the Rhône Alpes league in his category. His mantra: discipline, respect and rigor. While this may seem difficult for a 9-year-old child, seeing him determined among all the competitors quickly becomes impressive.
“When there are 36 of them on the circuit, it’s very, very hot: they give everything they have, it touches each other… I’m always very afraid. (…) It’s only when the checkered flag falls that I say to myself ‘ah, it was a good race’” Didier tells us. On these circuits, we see a lot of parents like Didier, with their young drivers. Dad, coach, mechanic: he has many hats and accompanies his son throughout races and championships. “He caught the virus, so I’m trying to do my best to make it go as far as possible,” explains the dad-mechanic.
A very expensive passion
Each race weekend costs the Gurtner family around 1,200 francs. The karting engine needs to be replaced approximately every three weeks. Count on 15,000 to 20,000 francs for a season: at this rate keeping up with the racing calendar becomes complicated. To continue this momentum, David now needs sponsors. His father created an association and is trying to make himself known.
Here, on the Scientrier circuit, David is already seen as a seed of champion. “He is very motivated, it’s a great strength” tells us Gabriel Menoni, instructor and sub-manager at MK Circuit. “Plus, it hasn’t been that long since he started karting and he has already reached a level which is not bad at all for his age.”
See you next season. David can already see himself there… and in the top 10!
