Online Racer Turns To Karting
Racing is racing, and in days gone past, if you couldn't afford to do the real thing, the only alternative was to spectate.
These days, if you can't afford to race, there are plenty of computer games and racing simulations to help budding racers get their fix. And that's how NSW's Martin Villari started his racing career.
"I started online racing when I was twelve years old" Villari informed KartSportNews. "At the time we couldn't afford a kart. My parents told me to study hard and everything would come eventually."
Martin raced online for nearly six years before getting his first kart at 18. "In my first AKA race meeting (on P's from the back) I was coming second in a very wet race at Wollongong. I had started 12th but ran out of fuel one corner from the flag."
Now 19, Martin currently races in the TaG Light Restricted class. "In my first race meeting off Ps recently, I came third at Eastern Creek - and I haven't even been racing one full year yet."
Karting is often touted as excellent preparation and training for driving road and race cars. Online racing can be of help too, even if just for the mental training and concentration.
"I learnt a lot from online racing because I took it to an extremely competitive level. I was more nervous for those online races than I am these days in real life!"
Above & Below: Villari practices in his Arrow/Rotax kart before eventually taking the plunge in real wheel-to-wheel competition
Above: The Stig??
