WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN KARTING IS A DREAM FOR SO MANY WHO LONG FOR THE CHANCE TO STAND ON THE TOP STEP OF THE PODIUM AND JOIN THE LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHED DRIVERS WHO HAVE MADE HISTORY. KEAN NAKAMURA BERTA ALSO SHARED THIS DREAM AND ACHIEVED SOMETHING NO JAPANESE DRIVER HAS DONE UNTIL NOW IN THE FIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RANKINGS. SOME HAVE COME EVER SO CLOSE, BUT HE IS THE FIRST
Text Jen Wade
He’s just turned 14 and has spent most of his life in the UK where he was born, since living in Japan for the first 5 years. His mother is Japanese and his father Slovakian, explaining why Kean proudly displays both national flags on his racesuit, but he’s the first in his family to fall for Motorsport. At a young age, he was already hooked on watching racing on TV and his parents eventually gave in to his requests to go karting, taking Kean on the hire karts for his 7th birthday. A year later, he made the next step to start in
the Honda Cadet class, with his dad as mechanic. Now he’s Junior World Champ!
What does it feel like to be the FIA Karting World Junior #1?
Simply amazing! I think it’s everyone’s dream to be able to call yourself World Champion. I feel honoured to be one of the few who can say that they are World Champions.
How important was it to you personally to win this prestigious title?
This title is very important to me because I am the first ever Japanese driver to become the Karting World Champion. But I have also been dreaming all year about this one race and its outcome, and the slight chance that I could possibly be the one on the top step of the podium. Especially after such a season that had so many downs, this victory released all my emotions throughout the year.
Talk us through the lead-up as you prepared for the event in Spain and how it all unfolded to win.
We had a few days testing and a shakedown race at Campillos before the World Championship. We were definitely amongst one of the fastest in the test days, so went into the race with confidence. But then we faced tyre issues that many things just didn’t work in the race. Unfortunately, it continued in the World Championship as well. We struggled with grip and couldn’t find the pace to fight at the front in the dry. I started the week with a poor TQ and did the maximum I could do in the heats. But I really couldn’t expect a good result, until Sunday when I heard that it would be a wet final. I guess it was difficult conditions for everyone there. The kart of the race leader [Freddie Slater] was spot on so it was impossible to stay with him. Although, I knew his bumper had dropped from contact with me in the beginning of the race, which meant he would be given a 5-second penalty. But when I settled in P2, the gap between me and him was already huge. So I gave up tyre management and just pushed my kart ahead, calculating the gap between us in every sector and lap. When I entered into sector 3 on the final lap, I thought I might still have a chance to get this. I knew that I had an advantage through the last sector. In the end it was so close; 4.74 across the line.
For many people, you are somewhat of an unknown champion, showing up and taking the Junior World title in a strong field of experienced competitors. Did you expect this success?
I can’t say I expected it, but I really wanted to win. I knew that I had a chance. Sadly I couldn’t make a name for myself any earlier due to the fact that I had an injury for three months in the main season. I had to give up the FIA European Championship which felt like the end of the world… so I was very happy to get back on track and only focused on the World Championship.
Straight after winning the Junior title, you moved to seniors in OK and took victory at the Winter Cup. What has enabled you to achieve these results and progress as you have in this sport?
I have always had very supportive parents and they have enabled me to improve in any way possible since I started karting.
I have also had people to guide me in the correct way physically and mentally.
How do you manage to balance your racing, your studies and your training these days?
I am always studying at the circuit during the day and at the hotel. Often I get home after midnight Sunday from Europe and go to school the next couple of days then fly back for another race week. It’s hard, but I make sure that I go to school as long as I can, and I am trying not to fall behind in school. I have just started a program with a trainer to help me stay fit and build strength.
What are your goals at this point in your career and who guides you with the direction you take?
I am hoping that next year I will achieve even more, aiming to fight for the best place consistently. Then I want to manage to stand on the top step at World Championship again. I know how difficult it is, but I will take this challenge, as I want to develop myself. Thankfully, I’ve met some key people throughout my karting career, and have been supported and managed by those professionals. I really have to thank everyone involved during my karting career, Forza Racing who have taught me a lot this year and worked hard, my mechanic Callum, our tuner GFR, my sponsor & managers, and my family. I am so grateful for all their help and support.
“I have always had very supportive parents and they have enabled me to improve in any way possible since I started karting.”
Article created in collaboration with Vroom Karting Magazine
Post time: Dec-23-2021