Cristiano’s ignition is powered by passion
Every month the Northglen News will profile sporting heroes who compete across a wide spectrum of sporting codes. These could include World or SA Champions or even rising stars who look set to take the sporting world by storm. Either way, if they are excelling or are passionate about the sport they play, then they stand a chance of featuring as our 'Homegrown Sport Talent' page.
CRISTIANO Morgado occupies a unique niche in the racing world. The La Lucia resident has won four Rotax Max Finals Karting World Championships titles, is the first driver in karting history to win four world titles, as well as becoming the first person to win three consecutive titles in a row. Only Ben Cooper of the UK has managed to win three Grand Final Rotax titles in the 14-year running of the event.
The 35-year-old is also the first South African to win the Florida Winter Tour (FWT). The karting series is one of the most sought after titles not only in North America, but also the world.
Northglen News recently caught up with Morgado to find out where it all began.
“I remember watching my first F1 completely captivated by the action on the screen. I’m not sure how to explain it, but you know what you love the second you come into contact with it. Racing just ignited this passion within me and there was nothing else I wanted to do as much as motor racing” he explained.
“My dad bought me my first kart when I was 10 years old and I remember going to Mason’s Mill race track in Pietermaritzburg and having the time of my life. I just took to it quite naturally and from there it was on to my first race, which happened to be the Umhlanga Rocks Street Race.”
What followed is one of the most decorated careers in karting that continues to this day. Morgado won his first world title in 2003 but besides this being his watershed moment, it also taught him one of the most important lessons; never giving up.
“Making the South African team had always been a dream of mine. It’s incredibly tough to get a call up but it is one of the greatest privileges in an athletes career. In 2003 I was leading the SA Championships and it came down to the final race of the weekend and with just about three quarters of the race gone, I felt a vibration as I took the left turn at Zwartkops racetrack and I lost my front wheel which ruled me out of contention of making the national team. I was gutted because I had trained so hard that season. I had won every race preceding the SA champs,” he said.
Instead of packing his bags and giving up, Morgado decided to let his actions speak louder than words.
“There was a wild card race in Europe called the Champions Cup a few months later which offered a solitary spot at the world champs for the winning driver. I made a decision then and there to go all out to win the race and get the last available spot for the World Champs. I even had to postpone my varisty exams so I could race,” he said.
The former St Henry’s Marist College pupil did not only earn a spot in the Protea squad but went on to win the world title that same year.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all the people who’ve helped me on this journey but the most important lesson I’ve learned is that you have to really love what you do. You have to work 10 times harder than anyone else, Passion is number one, it is what allows you to put in all the hours and get through all the hard times when most people would quit, it’s what makes everything possible.” he said.
My Favourites
Fave sports to watch: “Football”
Fave food/cuisine: “Italian, Portuguese”
Fave TV shows/channels: “I would have to say Supersport and the Discovery Channel”
Fave musician/band: “That’s a tough one, I can’t pick out anybody specifically. I love house music and 70s music”
Homegrown Sports Talent
Silver Fox still silky smooth on the waves (HST 1)
