Eleven-year-old George Tucker will travel to Italy to compete in the ROK Cup Superfinal in October, completing a 2-year-old goal of his to represent New Zealand.
The racer, who first started the sport three and a-half years ago, trained and competed at the KartSport Dunedin raceway and other tracks throughout the country.
Father, Andy Tucker, will travel to Lonato, Italy, with him as the pair now shared the hobby.
"Proud is what I am.
"He’s worked very hard to get himself into this position."
In preparation for the race the pair travelled on weekends to the North Taieri raceway, often doing between 60 and 70 laps of the 550m track in a training session.
"Since 2022, he’s hit a point where he became super dedicated.
"[The laps] just brings up that fitness."
An average lap would take him about 28 seconds, he said.
They trained at the track due to their affiliation with KartSport Dunedin and the specifications of the track, he said.
"Some of the kids only live a couple of hundred metres away.
"We just get there once every few weeks."
The pair would make the trip on a Friday afternoon once George finished for the day at Mount Aspiring College, and they would not return until Sunday evening.
"It is paying off.
"But if George ever wanted to stop, we would."
"They were all up to speed. Doing 80kmh to 90kmh, while he was buzzing around at 20kmh."
After a bit of confidence gaining he was soon up to speed with the other racers, he said.
"Now if it’s raining in Dunedin, he says ‘let’s go there and practise in the wet’."
That displayed his passion for the sport, he said.
George is now ranked second in New Zealand in the Vortex MiniROK class and had the ultimate goal of racing in the Formula 1 circuit.
The Superfinal, which is an invite-only race featured more than 400 drivers from 35 nations.
"It’s actually one of the pinnacle races of the year for world karting."
A week of practice, mechanics, karts and engineers cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We never expected to get this far but at the same time we also pushed to get this far."
Along with the other KartSport Team New Zealand racers, the pair would be in Italy from October 7-23.
KartSport Dunedin president Chris Cayford said it was fantastic news to have one of the young racers away to compete with the "best in the world".
"George has certainly done his bit with podium finishers at major events around New Zealand which we are very proud of."
He hoped he would make it back in time for the KartSport New Zealand 2024 South Islands Sprint Championships, which are being held at the KartSport Dunedin raceway.
The Superfinal will take place from October 15 to 19 at South Garda Karting.
