Bay karter qualifies for world finals.
One has to admire the passion and determination of Hawke's Bay karter Jamie van den Berk.
The Hastings Boys' High School Year 12 student has qualified for the World Vortex Superfinals in Lonato, Italy in October. He is prepared to attempt to raise the $20,000 required for the trip in less than two months and is happy to meet any quarantine requirements in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic.
"Obviously I don't have a lot of time to fundraise and get sponsorship. I'm going to have to act pretty fast. They've started racing in Italy again so going through quarantine is part of the process ... it's just one of the hurdles I have to overcome," van den Berk explained.
"This will be my first time racing overseas and first time going overseas apart from going over Cook Strait," the excited van den Berk said.
Palmerston North-based driver Arie Hutton and van den Berk will be the two Kiwis in a field of more than 50 drivers in the Vortex DVS senior class. They will race borrowed karts and engines for the BM Karting team.
The Lonato event involves one practise day and two days of racing.
"It's one of the biggest karting events of the year with people from all over the world. Obviously you have to go for gold. I'll be happy with a top 10 or top 20 finish but I'll be going for the podium at the same time," van den Berk said.
Both Hutton and van den Berk qualified for Lonato with their placings in the ROK Cup Championship which was raced in conjunction with the three-round Goldstar Series which saw meetings staged in Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Manawatu during the past six weeks.
Van den Berk won the Wellington round and finished sixth in Hawke's Bay and Wellington. He has been racing for 10 years and is happy with the progress he has made during the last two in particular.
"I don't judge my progress on results. It is based on the people I race against, how good I race and the moves I put in. The fact I have qualified for the world finals is pretty special," van den Berk added.
Anyone wanting to assist van den Berk can get more info from the following link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-race-in-italy-and-achieve-my-goal?
