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8th April 2011

CAITLIN WOOD TO COMPETE IN FIA KARTING ACADEMY SHOOTOUT

Caitlin Wood

Caitlin Wood in action behind the wheel.

Newcastle teenager Caitlin Wood has been accepted by the FIA to compete in the Karting Academy Trophy Program Qualifying Shootout to be held in Geneva later this month.

Nominated by the CAMS Women in Motor Sport Committee, 14 year-old Wood will be one of the ten young females compete in a mix of theoretical, presentation and driving activities during the two day shootout.  The driver deemed to have demonstrated the greatest potential will receive a free entry for the 2011 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, along with equipment supplied by Parolin, FIM and LeCont.

“I feel very honoured to be nominated for Australia. Then to go to Switzerland as one of the chosen top 10 is an awesome feeling! I’m overly excited for the event and looking forward to the challenge,” said Wood.

Since starting her career in the Midgets category at the age of seven on her home track of Newcastle, Wood has continually developed as a driver while graduating through the ranks into the Junior National, Clubman and Rotax categories.

National President of the Australian Karting Association, Simon Whiting, believes the inclusion of Wood as a part of the Qualifying Shootout is a reflection of the increased level of female involvement in Australian karting.

“Over the past few years we’ve seen a rise in the number of females competing in karting, to have Caitlin selected to participate in the Academy Shootout is also recognition that the FIA is looking at Australia for the next generation of drivers,” said Whiting.

“The CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy showed last year that it is a great opportunity for the young drivers to not only learn a lot about karting on the world stage but also about the education side of the sport and road safety through the EduKart program.

“We hope that one day, in the near future, we will have an Australian representative in both the Academy Trophy and also the World Under 18s Championship, hopefully Caitlin’s involvement in the Shootout is the first step towards achieving this goal.”