mmg.com.au

Echuca resident Shaun Costello is making a name for himself in national go-karting circles following his impressive performance at the Junior Top Guns series in Oakleigh last weekend.The 15-year-old finished second overall in the junior national heavy C and D class after finishing second and third in his two races, despite qualifying fastest in both rounds.

A satisfied Costello said he was pleased with his performances.

‘‘I wouldn’t say this would be my best result, but I’m happy with the result that I’ve got,’’ he said.

‘‘There was a wide spread of karters from around Australia, so I’m happy.’’

The St Joseph’s College student became involved in the sport three years ago when he visited Rochester Kart Club.

‘‘I first got involved in karting by being invited to go out to the track to watch a family friend participate,’’ Costello said.

‘‘I really enjoyed it and so did Dad and that’s how we got into it.

‘‘I joined the Rochester Kart Club and have been participating there ever since and participating around Australia.’’

Karting has taken Costello and his father as far as northern NSW and South Australia.

The pair plans to drive to Darwin via meets in Queensland later in the year, hauling Costello’s two karts in a trailer.

Costello said he had come a long way since entering the sport.

‘‘When I first started I’d go into a race with nerves and stuff like that,’’ he said.

‘‘But I did plenty of practice laps and got better lap times and eventually I worked my way to the front.

‘‘I had to improve on my lines coming out of the corners and learn to brake later.’’

He said it was the adrenaline he felt when racing which he enjoyed most, as well as the camaraderie and support shown across the sport.

Though his first competitive races in 2010 seem a distant memory, Costello will continue to draw on past experiences as he prepares to tackle the best karters in Australia over the next three months.

He will compete at the the Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championship at Puckapunyal in March before the Australian Championships at Murray Bridge, SA.