Christian Ho, 12, is first Singaporean to win at elite DKM karting series
SINGAPORE — Junior racer Christian Ho became the first Singaporean and Asian to come in first at the Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft (DKM) German Karting Championship in Genk, Belgium, on Sunday (4 August).
The 12-year-old finished in first place throughout the entire weekend, from qualifying to both final races.
“It was a perfect weekend for me and I’m incredibly proud. The win is a major milestone in my karting career and I look to carry the momentum into the rest of the 2019 season,” Christian said in a media release on Tuesday.
The DKM is one of the biggest karting series in Europe and attracts the best karting talent from around the world. Racing greats Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica were past winners of the series.
Even before his DKM win, it has already been a momentous year for Christian.
He was the first Singaporean to win a heat at the World Series Karting Super Masters Series in Adria, Italy, in February, eventually finishing the weekend as the highest-ranked Asian driver.
He was also the Asian to finish on the podium at the DKM in Lonato, Italy, with second and third placings out of 198 drivers in the two finals.
Christian and his parents had moved to Milan a year ago, in order for him to pursue a full-time racing career.
After moving up to the Junior category in April 2018, he achieved success at his debut race in the bigger and faster junior karts by finishing first in qualifying at the X30 South East Asia event in Sepang, Malaysia.
By the end of 2018, Christian had earned a place in the elite Ricky Flynn Motorsport Karting Team, which counts current Formula One driver Lando Norris as part of its alumni.
His next race will be at the World Championship in Finland, Alaharma, from 4 to 8 September.
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