Davidson: "Karting is the best way to learn"

Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One World Championship victory has thrust karting back in to the spotlight. As the format that Hamilton learnt his trade in, karting has seen increased interest over the past 12 months.

Many British Formula One drivers cut their teeth in karts, including Honda’s Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson. Davidson, who drove for the now defunct Super Aguri team last season, believes karting was a great grounding in his push to become a racing driver.

“There are no better options. You can go straight into single seaters but I would say starting young in karts is always an advantage.”

“It's not vital, but it does really help to develop your mental attitude for when you get to single-seater categories. I still refer back to tests and the things I learnt in karting to this day.”
With Formula One such a technological hotbed, drivers are required to give feedback to help develop different aspects of the car, and Davidson feels he first started to appreciate these aspects in karts:

“The main thing I learnt from karting was understanding tyre technology. Also, by the time I was 18 I was racing against triple World and European Champions in karts, which I think makes a difference to your approach to racing.”

While some see the increase in karting interest as temporary, it seems Davidson’s inspiration to get in to motor racing is not too dissimilar from those taking up the sport today:

“My first kart was a present for my eighth birthday from my dad as I was always a fan of watching F1 on TV. We all enjoyed the karting experience, and started going regularly.”

And Davidson believes that from the new crop of Lewis Hamilton inspired racers could come a future Formula One World Champion:

“By the time I was 13 I knew I wanted to be a professional racing driver, and I already knew I had what it would take, even from such an early age. Also at this time I could see the difference between when we went racing as a family, compared to people that did it just for a hobby and as just something to do with their children.”

“It started as a hobby for me too, but when you start winning you realise there could be a future rather than just racing for fun.”

To find your local kart club click here.

(Images courtesy of Nat McBride and Jeff Wunrow)