March 30, 2020

Karting

We are very excited to announce out latest member, Harry Reading into the Young Racing Driver Academy. Harry has just done a handful of races since graduating from racing rental karts at Pickenham and has already raced in both the Junior TKM and Mini X30 classes. Racing with Jade Karts, Harry’s goal is to get himself ready for his first season in the British Kart Championships where he will make the step up to the Junior X30 class. We are looking forward to working with Harry, who in his very short career has already been proving himself as one to watch at the Shenington Kart Racing Club.



Harry, 11-years-old, started his journey in Motorsport at the age of eight at the Anglia Karting Centre in Pickenham. The track stretches to over 1000 metres in length and gave Harry his first opportunity to race and get the feel for speed. Harry learnt very quickly, winning the championship in 2018 which led him to seek new opportunities within the sport.



For his eleventh birthday in 2019, Harry was given the opportunity to test a Junior TKM kart with Jade Karts at Shenington. The circuit is one of the fastest in the UK with high speed corners and heavy braking zones at turns four and nine. It was a big step up for Harry, but one he loved and from there plans were put in place to get Harry’s ARKs test arranged so he could compete in the club championship.



After passing his test Harry entered his first race in August 2019 and as a novice he would be have to start from the back of the grid in every race. As often is at Shenington, the grid was packed with some of the best in the country but Harry completed the task of securing the novice trophy at rounds eight and ten leading up to pick up the best novice award! With the team focusing their attentions on the X30 classes, Harry made the move across to the Mini X30 class with his plan to work towards racing in the Junior X30 British Championships in 2021.



The first two rounds of the Shenington Kart Club Championship this year would see Harry compete in the Mini X30 class where he would pick up the novice trophy on both occasions. It gave him all five signatures needed to receive his full Motorsport UK Karting licence. An important step in any drivers career and it means the next time Harry races he will not be forced to start from the back of the grid.



Away from his racing at Shenington Harry has also completed a test at PFI with the plan to race in the Trent Valley Kart Club once normal service resumes. Shenington and PFI are amongst the top five circuits in the country and will make for great preparation as Harry prepares to make the jump up to Junior X30 class next year for the British Championships.



All his on-track activities have come with the support of mechanic, Matt Lodge. Matt is a full-time mechanic for Williams F1 and has given up his all his spare time to support Harry at the circuit. The pair have a great working relationship which has helped Harry’s confidence grow a huge amount in just the few months he has been racing.



Off circuit, Harry does a huge amount to help his career. His training includes boxing once a week and he will also be working with media company, Digital Boss who will be making videos with him throughout the year to document his first full year racing in the sport. They made the first video following him at a test day at Ellough Park which you can watch by clicking here.



Harry has also received the support of both First Self Drive and FSD Vehicle Leasing who are helping fund Harry’s racing throughout this year.



With the whole sport now put on hold until July, at the earliest, Harry will be focusing on training from home and also on his studies. Home education is not new to Harry and although he is already missing being out on circuit his eventual goal of racing in the British Championships is something that has helped keep him motivated.



We are very excited to be working with Harry who will be attending simulator sessions and training days to help him develop as a racing driver and help with preparations for an exciting season in 2021.



Harry Reading: “Although the 2020 season hasn’t started as expected motorsport is all about challenges, so we will wait until we can continue and then prepare for 2021 British championship, stronger, harder, faster.”



You can follow Harry’s progress through our website and social media channels and find out more details on him by visiting his driver profile page.