RACEY ROGERS IS READY TO GO

Josh Rogers will start as one of the favourites in the Rookies category for this weekend's Queensland State Championships

Boyne Island’s Josh Rogers is a young man in a hurry.

The Tannum High School year 8 student has got his sights set on a career in motorsport with the ultimate goal of becoming a Formula One driver. However, his focus for the moment is on winning the Queensland State Karting Championship being held on his home circuit in Gladstone this weekend.

“I started racing four years ago and ever since then my ultimate goal has been try and get to Europe and race, which will hopefully end up with achieving my goal of one day becoming a Formula One driver,” said Rogers.

At 12 years of age Rogers has already got an impressive racing resume, which last month was expanded to include a victory in the Rookies category at the Victorian State Championships in Geelong.

Competing against the top young drivers between 10 and 12 years of age, Rogers is excited about this weekend’s racing but also the fact that he’ll see a lot of his mates from all across the country.

“The racing is great fun and to win in Victoria last month was an amazing feeling,” said Rogers.

“This weekend is going to be a very big meeting with drivers coming from all over the place to race at my home track. I’m really excited and can’t wait for the championships to start.

“One of the best things that I love about racing karts is the great mates that you make. We all want to win on the track but when we’re not racing we all have fun together.”

Rogers’ father Glen supports young Josh’s view about making some great friends through the sport.

“We’ve got a lot of buddies in the sport now. I really enjoy the technical aspect of the karts and am pretty finicky about the preparation of the karts as well. I always want to make sure everything is right and I give Josh the best chance he can possibly have to succeed,” said Rogers Snr.

Rogers will be one of a number of local drivers competing in the 22-strong field in the Rookies category. Other Gladstone Kart Club members expected to figure prominently include Nicholas Butler, Sam Battye, Jack Bussey and Joel Curd.

Rogers will take to the circuit in his Kosmic kart supported by MG Engines and Cian Fothergill Karting on Wednesday and Thursday for practice ahead of qualifying on Friday. The racing will continue on Saturday with the championship finals to be held on Sunday.

More than 250 competitors, across 15 categories, will assemble for the championships this weekend.

The Gladstone Kart Track is located on South Tree Drive, Gladstone.