Keilor teen Emerson Harvey’s fast-track to success

The speed and intensity of go karting attracted Emerson Harvey to the sport. He’s already won state cups and now he’s ready to really put his foot down to fast-track a career in Formula 1.

Go karting star Emerson Harvey. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Motorsports star Emerson Harvey has been nominated as a Junior Sports Star for the Leader Local Sports Stars awards.

Age: 16

Sport: Motorsport

School: St Bernard’s College, Essendon

Suburb: Keilor

How old were you when you took up your sport?

I was eight.

How did you get involved in this sport?

My father raced cars and did go karts for a bit of fun and I was really keen to do the same.

I asked for a go kart and eventually I got a second-hand kart for my seventh birthday.

Where have you competed?

I won the Victorian State Cup and the South Australian State Cup in December 2018. I won the Rookie of the Round at this year’s Australian Grand Prix in Formula 4.

Describe your training routine:

Two one-hour sessions per day of specific motorsport-based fitness programs; boxing two nights a week; kart testing at least once a week and race car simulator training two hours a day.

What do you love most about your sport?

Karting is very intense, with at least 40 karts on the track. It’s fast and takes immense concentration to run at the front, with a 10th of a second separating the top half of the field.

Describe the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your sport:

One of the hardest things is not being able to play football or cricket with my friends as I’ve been away racing nearly every weekend since I was 12.

What is your ultimate sporting goal?

My goal has always been F1 but mainly I just want a motorsport career.

‘I couldn’t have done this without …’

Definitely couldn’t have done this without my family. Also major sponsor, Shannons Insurance, who have backed me since I was 10.

Thanks to our partner Gold 104.3.

Know someone with great sporting talent? Nominate them here.