From Karts to Cars: My Journey Through the Ranks

Gracie explains how she made her transition from karting to cars – and why she’ll never forget her roots!

Racing has been my life for as long as I can remember. I started karting when I was 10, during a family trip to Spain, and shortly after my 11th birthday, I had my very first kart. Karting is where it all began, and while I’ve transitioned to racing cars now, I’ll always be grateful for the foundation it gave me—and for the pure chaos that made it so exciting!

Karting and cars might seem similar, but trust me, they’re very different worlds. In karting, everything happens at a million miles an hour (and I don’t just mean the speed of the karts). The sessions are shorter—about 10-15 minutes each—and you might have 5 to 7 sessions packed into a single day. That means constant action, quick turnarounds, and very little downtime. Compare that to cars, where we have longer sessions—usually three 45-minute stints in a day—and it’s so much more chilled out. You have time to relax, grab some food, and go over data without feeling like you’re racing the clock between every session.

The Path Through the Ranks 🚦

Most people start in karting because you can get into it really young—like, bambino young (ages 6-8). From there, you move up to cadets (ages 8-12) and eventually junior ranks. Karting does a great job of creating clear steps for young drivers to progress, and they’ve even adjusted weight limits recently so smaller kids can stay competitive.

In cars, the structure is a bit different. You can get a junior licence at 14, but once you hit 16, you’re considered a senior. It’s a faster transition to the big leagues, and honestly, racing cars feels very different from karting. Junior cars and some types of karts can hit similar speeds—around 100mph—but senior-level cars? That’s a whole other level.

Looking Back, Moving Forward 🏎️

Karting taught me so much—not just about racing, but about handling pressure and making split-second decisions. It’s fast, intense, and everything happens in the blink of an eye. Transitioning to cars has been amazing, though, because it gives me the chance to focus more on the technical side of racing. I love being able to analyse data, refine my performance, and get into the nitty-gritty of what makes a car go faster.

Whether it’s a kart or a car, I still get that same buzz every time I’m behind the wheel. Racing has been my passion since I was a kid, and every step of the journey—from Spain to the circuits I race on now—has shaped me into the driver I am today. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks for reading, and as always, thank you for your support! Whether you’re a karting fan or a car enthusiast, I’d love to hear about your own experiences with racing. Drop a comment or message me—I’d love to chat! 🏁💙

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