Northcliff’s best kart racer is set to pursue tougher challenges
NORTHCLIFF – A local kart racer is on his way to achieving his dream of racing Formula One.
Local kart racer Jordan North (14) is looking for tougher challenges after ‘destroying’ the opposition in South Africa and performing well in Europe.
“Racing is all about winning,” he said. “Second place is losing. If you are not there to win then don’t bother racing.”
Jordan has done a lot of winning in the past few years and received his South African colours on 3 December.
His biggest victories were the 2015 Northern Regions Junior Rok Championships and the Motorsport South Africa Academy Trophy this year.
The Northcliff resident who attends Radhord House explained that the drivers in this trophy drew engines out of a hat and had to swop engines randomly and regularly with each other, so the competition could be fair.
Jordan races for Roos Kart Team in South Africa and in Europe races for Ward Racing, a Swedish group.
He competed in the last five Rok World Championships and also raced in the Trofeo Margutti in Italy in March. He has also taken part in the Commission Internationale de Karting Federation Internationale de L’Automobile Academy for the past two years, earning podium finishes against the world’s best kart racers in the 12–14 age group.
Now he is raising the bar.
“Next year I want to race in the open category and will start off at the Winter Cup in Linato, Italy, in February. I hope to win it.”
Karts are heavier and more powerful, and races are longer in the open category.
Jordan believes he needs to up his game in all areas of driving to compete well, which his passion will surely see him through.
Jordan calls kart racing “pure”.
“It feels so amazing to drive a kart. They go zero to 100km/h in three seconds and drive well in all weather conditions. “There are no gears so it is simple and more competitive.”
His goal is to one day progress to Formula One or Formula E.
“Whatever happens I want to be the best of the best.”
Jordan’s father, Hector, who also raced karts and production cars in his heyday, said Jordan has the passion and commitment it takes to get there.
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