Page 751 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2018
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Mark Webber circuit will transform the existing track into one that meets national and international standards.
The improvements to the track, including increasing the track to 1,100 metres, will mean that Canberra racing kart drivers will be able to take part in a greater range of events and compete at a much higher level. For those unfamiliar with this particular sporting venue, it is where some of Canberra’s fastest young drivers, some as young as seven, take on the circuit and compete for national honours.
On Sunday I had the honour and privilege to head out to the Mark Webber circuit to watch some of our wonderful locals mix it up with some other juniors, and those not so junior, to race against kart drivers from across New South Wales. Many of those racing were young girls. They were ripping up the circuit and often reaching speeds close to 130 kilometres per hour. I have been meeting with many of these girls who compete regularly for the Canberra Kart Racing Club.
Often these girls have chatted with me about the difficulties they have in competing and finding professional support as they get older and the competition gets more aggressive. It extends even to finding racing suits to fit them as they grow and develop more. All the suits are made for boys and for men.
During some of the conversations I held with these women and girls they invited me to participate in a bit of a race at the Power Kart Raceway in Fyshwick. Can I remind you all that these girls, many of them far too young to be near the steering wheel of a car on the road, really put me to shame? Not only did they beat me; they beat me by four laps and 10 seconds. These girls are as young as nine. They are amazing and they compete with men and boys in their own age groups. There is no difference. They all compete together. It was a lot of fun racing those little karts at the Power Kart Raceway. I hope to do it again with the girls soon.
While we are here, talking about the continued support of women and girls in sport, I want to give a quick plug to my young friend and massive karting enthusiast Kiarra Jones, aged 12. Kiarra entered a national competition to attend the grand prix in Melbourne this weekend. As part of the competition, Kiarra wrote a short summary of everything she loved about karting and what motorsport means to her. I was thrilled that Kiarra was one of only 20 young girls from around Australia who will be attending the grand prix and joining the drivers on the track. Kiarra is hoping that by being involved in this year’s grand prix she will have the opportunity to raise more awareness of women and girls in motorsport. Good job, Kiarra, and I hope you go well!
I would like to finish by talking about my experiences in the sporting realm. I have played sport since I was very small. Mr Milligan also talked about this. We are very lucky in the ACT not to have far to travel. One side of Canberra to the other is relatively close. But it still puts pressure on our parents, when we are young, to have to drive us from one end of Canberra to the other.
The government’s continuing support for women and girls having more places to get changed when they reach those sporting fields is a wonderful initiative. I remember
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