The name Louis Sharp is one to remember for the future as this young Christchurch kartsport driver continues to make a mark in both domestic and international competition.
Now Sharp has asked to move up an age group at the 2020 Kartsport nationals at Easter.
In the six years he has been competing here in New Zealand he has won 11 titles across two classes, including two NZ titles, five South Island titles as well as NZ Schools, Challenge Cup, Mainland Series and WPKA Goldstar titles.
Sharp wants to forgo the opportunity of defending and securing another national title by moving up an age group to gain vital experience before he heads overseas to compete in FIA kartsport series competition
First he had to gain agreement from his family, supporters and sponsors who are unanimous in their support for the decision.
This weekend Sharp will compete in the North Island which sees the KartSport Wellington club running the second round of the 2019/20 WPKA Manawatu & TRC Toyota-backed Goldstar series at its Gazley Motor Group Kart Raceway north-east of the Capital.
He will compete in the Vortex ROK DVS Junior class which sees the biggest influx of competitors with internationals Jacob Douglas from Christchurch and Liam Sceats and Sebastian Manson joining fellow Aucklander Hayden Bakkerus, Bo Hill from Nelson and Lily Rose Taylor on a grid which includes Goldstar Rnd1 class winner Ben Stewart, runner-up Tom Bewley from Havelock North and Ayrton Williams and Mason Potter from Auckland.
The strong field will provide a huge learning curve, experience and extra horsepower. Just what he is after.
Later this year he flies to and from Europe to contest the three-round FIA Karting Academy Trophy Series.
The invitation-only ‘arrive-and-drive’ series is an initiative by the sport’s governing body, FIA Karting, to ‘level the playing field’ for promising young drivers from around the world and Sharp was selected for the position by KartSport New Zealand from a high quality list of local applicants.
Last year he won the Mini ROK class B-Final at the big Autumn Trophy meeting at the South Garda Kart Track at Lonato before a week later finishing third in the Singha Trophy (Mini ROK B-Main) race at the annual ROK Cup Superfinal.
Like any other ‘arrive-and-drive’ series, virtually everything a driver needs to compete is provided by the organisers of the Academy Trophy Series – from the chassis (OTK), engine (Vortex, and the same as that run in New Zealand’s ROK DVS classes) and tyres (Vega) to a driving suit and mechanic’s apparel (OMP).
Engines are also regularly swapped so that no one driver is seen to have an advantage.
Travelling with Louis to each round of this year’s Academy Trophy Series will be Chris Cox – himself a multi-time local champion and now one of KartSport New Zealand’s accredited Academy coaches.
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