Eight-year-old Miguel Spina made his official racing debut, competing at the prestigious Franciacorta circuit in Italy. The event was part of the ROK Cup Championship, with 56 drivers aged 8 to 12 from across Europe vying for victory in the Mini ROK category.
Miguel had been training intensively for the race, achieving his personal best lap time of 56.88 seconds during one of the practice sessions. However, as the week progressed, track conditions became more difficult due to rising temperatures that soared to nearly 40°C during peak hours, causing excessive rubber buildup in critical areas. Despite these challenges, Miguel maintained consistent lap times, thanks in part to the support of his engineer and mechanic. Notably, Miguel was also assigned his official kart number—75!
Race day arrived on the 4th of August, a scorching Sunday morning. The first step was the random distribution of engines, as per ROK Cup regulations. The engines are sealed and no modifications are permitted, ensuring fairness among all competitors.
The initial session was the test run, and it quickly became clear to Miguel’s team that his kart was underperforming, a concern echoed by Miguel himself after the session. Upon inspection by the organization’s mechanics, the piston was replaced, but the engine itself remained unchanged. Unfortunately, this fix didn’t fully resolve the issue, leading to a major setback in the qualifying sessions. The kart failed to leave the starting line during the Pole Position, leaving Miguel with no recorded time and forcing him to start both qualifying races from the back of the grid.
This placed Miguel at a significant disadvantage, especially given his inexperience in competitive racing and the fact that he was one of the youngest participants at just eight years old. The competition featured older, more experienced drivers aged 10 to 12, making it difficult for Miguel to climb the ranks. Nevertheless, he managed to gain a few positions in the final standings.
Despite these obstacles, Miguel remained determined and completed his first-ever race with his head held high, embracing the thrill of competition. Although the result was not what the team had hoped for due to the faulty engine, there is optimism for a better performance at the upcoming events.
