Matthew Waters in action (Pic: AF Images/Budd)
MATTHEW Waters has gained some valuable experience on the world karting stage after competing in CIK-FIA World Karting Championship in Macau on October 18-21.
The Horsely Park resident tested himself against the best the karting world has to offer as part of the three-man Kosmic Racing Australia team.
Kosmic Racing team is the first Australian team to compete at the event in 20 years and despite having engine problems over the course of the weekend Waters said the whole experience was a great step forward.
“We really went over there and treated it more as a learning experience,” he said. “We had a lot of engine dramas which wasn’t good but we learned a lot and it will definitely give us an advantage for next time we go there.”
The 22-year-old performed well on Saturday, finishing 18th out of 30 despite engine problems but on Sunday he had to retire when his engine stopped completely.
“It was frustrating to have the engine problems and it would’ve been good not too have them and to experience the whole weekend of racing,” Waters said.
“But you know on the first day of practice we were finishing inside the top 10 when we didn’t have any problems, so we know we can mix it with the top guys.”
For now Waters will concentrate on his marketing studies and learn from his experiences.
“It’s very different racing over there. They’re very professional and it’s more team-based than it is over here so there is a lot more money that goes in to these kind of events,” he said.
Waters and the Kosmic team will compete in the KF1 class next year in the hope of qualifying again for the world championships.
