Hi Charlotte, it’s fantastic to have you here! To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got interested in go-kart racing?

Hey! I started karting in July 2023, after doing motorsport photography (@cap_photography21) for 3 years. I absolutely love the sport and looking forward to a lot more exciting events in karting!

What was it about go-kart racing that captured your interest and made you want to pursue it more seriously?

After driving my kart for the first time, I instantly loved the adrenaline and the desire to improve more and more! I competed in my first race with only 3 weeks of practice and I knew it was what I wanted to pursue and hopefully turn it into a career.

Every racer has a beginning. Can you share some of your memories of racing? What were some challenges you faced when you started?

Although every race day, (and lots of practice days) are great memories and I am very proud of what I have achieved, my best memory was finishing on the podium at my debut at Hurricane Kart club. This was an amazing achievement after only being to that specific track once. It has definitely been an up and down learning curve but have enjoyed every part of it and looked at it all as an amazing experience.

As a young racer, how do you balance school, friends, and racing?

Balancing racing and school can be hard sometimes. Luckily my school supports my racing and so do my friends which makes it easier. Having such a supportive team/atmosphere at the track also helps a lot too!

Pursuing a sport like you are, especially at a young age, is quite a unique experience. Can you describe the culture within the go-kart racing community? What’s it like being part of this world?

It is a wonderful community; everyone is so supportive and always there to help. I am very grateful for everyone who has gotten me to the point I am at today. And a huge thank you to BA Equipment for supporting me from the beginning of my journey.

Racing, like many sports, is often seen as male-dominated. As a young female racer, what has your experience been like in this environment? Do you feel that being a girl in go-kart racing brings unique challenges or opportunities?

Karting Australia (and everyone involved) are actively promoting Females in Motorsport which is great. It is awesome to see so many females move through the ranks and into international level racing. I am very proud to be one of the few females around my age karting in WA and proud to represent all of the amazing people, companies and team which support me!

Everyone has that one person they look up to, especially in sports. Could you tell us about who your biggest inspiration is in racing? How have they influenced your approach to the sport

My biggest inspiration in motorsport is Madeline Stewart. She is currently racing Porsches internationally which is something I aspire to do. Being able to look up to her and following her journey has definitely made me more motivated to do well and keep pushing!

What’s your favourite part about race days? Are there any rituals or routines you follow?

Oh, race days are so much fun! It is such a good vibe at the track; catching up with everyone, having some good competition and clean racing! On race days, I make sure to cut out all distractions and focus on the races ahead of me to ensure I get my best results and have full concentration.

Looking ahead, what are some goals or dreams you have in your racing career?

Some of my goals in my racing career are to race in the Radical Cup Australia and to move into International Porsche/GT Racing. The Radical Cup has been something I have aspired to do for many years, and now that I am racing, it has become a big goal of mine as I move through the ranks in motorsport.

Thank you so much for your time and giving us an insight into the life of a young racer. We’ll be closely following your journey towards your debut at the Radical Cup, and for those tuning in from home, you can follow Charlotte on her Instagram @charlyyypp.

Charlotte, we’re wishing you all the best for the season ahead! Make us proud!

It has been my pleasure! A huge thank you to BA Equipment for the ongoing support and I look forward to working with them in the 2024 season and many more years to come! Make sure to follow my journey on @charlyyypp for live race updates and other announcements.