SA Cadet Karter Alibhai all set for IAME European finals in England
South African Cadet karter Aqil Alibhai heads to his biggest karting appointment of the British karting summer at the IAME European Open at Trent Valley in Lincolnshire, England from 15-19 June with a spring in his step following his first win in a British Championship heat last time out.
“I am enjoying a great British summer,” Aqil admitted. “We are here to learn so we can be ready for a full attack next season and so far it has been very good — we’re progressing well and I have picked up so much every time I have been in the kart — it’s a fight for every position with so many karts around me, there is never a second to rest!”
“It’s going to be even more hectic this weekend at the Euros with even more top kids from all over the world coming to race, so I am a little nervous, but it is so exciting. “Soon I will be coming back to the tracks I am going to for the first time now and it will be easier, but I have a great team around me with my dad, mom, Mpho Gumbi – our South African guru on English racing and the entire Synergy team.”
An interesting aspect of Aqil’s year of karting learning is how he is coping with schoolwork while on the move half the world away. “I am very lucky to attend such an understanding and supportive school as St Martins in Johannesburg,” Aqil explains. “My teachers have given me work to take with and my mom sits with me everyday with a few pages so I can keep up with the syllabus and they will also give me extra lessons when we get back in my August holidays.
“Karting is important to us, but I cannot let that interfere with a proper education and I am lucky that St Martins makes the effort and that my mom and dad are able to help while on the road.”
Aquil’s focus switches back to karting on Wednesday however, with the Euros demanding every ounce of his attention through a full program of practice, qualifying, heats and then the races.