Karting ace Kody, 10, is the first Q&A feature of 2025

The facts areName: Kody VertiganAge: 10Lives in: King’s LynnPrimary school: GaywoodHonours (grass): British 70cc champion, GP champion, Club champion, Top junior points scorer and shale champion Honours (circuit): Tattershall champion, T Plate champion Sporting hero: George Russell and Bartosz ZmarzlikInstagram: @kody.vertigan.motorsportKody. When did you first become interested in motorsport?I have always been a lover of all motorsports, as my dad loves them. He did grass karting and tried speedway when he was younger and has been taking me to speedway since I was a baby.I was even on Sky Sports riding my King’s Lynn replica balance bike wearing an old- style retro yellow and green King’s Lynn Stars race jacket! At four years old, I had an electric Oset motorbike which I could ride around the fields which I enjoyed.I wanted to try speedway but dad said karting is safer. I also like going to watch the banger racing at King’s Lynn too. What made you want to get into racing?I think it’s because from a young age I have always been around motorsport and my dad loves all forms of it.We both sit and watch it together on TV.I was in a very successful local football team from a young age but my heart was not in it and that’s when my dad started to look at other things for me to try. When was the first time you got behind the wheel and what was it like?The first time I properly had a go in a kart was when we went to visit my uncle and aunt in Cyprus.We all went out together and I loved the feeling of being so low to the floor and how fast it felt.It was a big fast track with a bridge and all was going well until I tried to go flat out around a corner and didn’t make it and went straight through the tyre wall. It threw me over the steering column onto the tyres! So, I sampled the highs and lows of karting the first time behind the wheel.After that first go, my dad took me down to Wisbech Grass Kart Club to have a look at what a race day meeting was like for the first time and I instantly knew that it was the sport I wanted to do.You started karting just over a year ago, how quickly did you feel comfortable and how does it make you feel when you’re racing?I am always learning and taking on advice as I have so much more to learn. I know I have more improvement in me if I keep pushing. When you first start on the grass or circuits you have to start at the back of the grid until you feel confident to move up into the pack.I still have a few nerves when on the circuits as the first corners can be a bit hairy with up to 30 drivers going bumper-to-bumper flat out.You have to be focused in case someone spins in front of you as you don’t have much time to react.I also like the excitement of chasing down the drivers in front of me and trying to work out where to overtake them. You won 20 races out of 20 to win the 70cc winter shale championship. Are you addicted to winning? What drives you to cross the line first?Yes, I’m like every other driver who goes on the grid. They all want to win.As my dad says they don’t remember the person who comes second or third. And the first-place trophy is always nicer to have on the shelf at home.It’s always a nice feeling to stand on the top step of the podium. There is a lot of hard work which goes on before we get to the track which then helps make things easier there but I know you can’t always win as on the day anything can happen.You always need a little bit of luck to help you on the day so it is a special feeling crossing the line in first place.You’ve won other titles as well. Tell us about them. Does any stand out as your favourite?I have been lucky to win quite a few titles in my first full season of racing. On the grass, I raced a Honda C70 engine which has three gears that you have to change.In 2024 I managed to win the Wisbech and District Club Championship, The GP Championship and the Top Junior Points Scorer Trophy.On the circuit I managed to win the Tattershall Kart Club Championship and also their big meeting of the year, the T Plate Round.But the highlight for me was winning the British Championship in my first full season, that is something I will never forget, breaking that tape is phenomenal.Have you got a favourite race so far? What about a favourite circuit?Now that is a hard one to answer! I enjoy all the races I’m in as I just love racing whether it’s on the grass or on the circuits.I have had some good races at MSUK race meetings at Shenington (Oxfordshire) and Whilton Mill (Northamptonshire) where I won top novice.But my favourite race had to be the final for the British Grass Championship as I had really good speed and think I won all my qualifying heats to start on pole for the final.I knew I had to make a good start, which I did and I then had to make sure I made no mistakes and keep focused until the chequered flag.I would say Whilton Mill is my favourite track; it’s fast and technical and has good facilities.What areas of your driving do you think you can improve on most?There is lots I can learn and improve on, especially on the circuits.As I am having to play catch-up as most of the other drivers have all come through ‘bambino racing’ (aged 5-8) so most of them have so much more experience than me.I think the area I need to improve on is racing in the wet as it is completely different to racing in normal conditions you can’t race on the normal racing line as it is really greasy due to the rubber on the track.You either have to mount the kerbs and use them to pull you around or stay out wide on the part of the track you don’t normally use.I have only been out racing in the wet twice last year, so that is something we are working on.Is Formula 1 the aim or another motorsport? And how much inspiration do local racers like George Russell give you?I think every kid who races karts dreams of being in F1 and I’m no different. But you must either have some serious backing or extremely rich parents like Lance Stroll.I still have a desire to have a go at speedway one day. I am now competing against others at MSUK events who turn up in helicopters and spend nearly our yearly budget in one weekend.But we like being the underdog, it makes it more satisfying to beat some of them.George Russell is an inspiration as it’s great to know a top F1 driver from this area has made it from karting to F1.It’s nice that George and Toto Wolff have recently popped along to watch karting at PFI, which is great for us kart drivers.It’s just a shame I was not there those two weekends but hopefully I will have the chance to meet my hero George one day.Finally, motorsport is so expensive to get involved with. How key are sponsors and how much help will you need to keep progressing?Sponsorship is very important so I want to give a big shout-out to our only sponsor in 2024, Gayton Mot & Service Centre.Their help has been much appreciated and we are hoping for more people to come on board for 2025.My dad and uncle are in the process of producing a sponsor’s package that we can take to companies with the hope we may get one or two on board.This year we are moving up to 90cc on the grass but the big move up is jumping into IAME Waterswift (Inter) on the circuit. It will be very tough as this is for ages 10 to 23.We really need to be under the guidance of a team for set-up driver coaching and data but as you can imagine this is something you have to pay for and is outside of our budget.So, if anyone is reading this and would like to come on the karting journey by sponsoring us you can contact my dad at kv.motorsports@hotmail.com or call 07789 900259.Five interesting factsKody is a big speedway fan and watches King’s Lynn Stars. He’s really looking forward to the 2025 season, especially now Ashton Boughen is in the team. He took Kody on the podium with him when he won the British u16 title at BirminghamThe Gaywood Primary School pupil and his dad Barry spend a lot of hours in the garage working on the karts. He has learned basic skills in stripping down the kart and putting it back together, as kart prep is essential to stand a chance on race dayFor his downtime fun, Vertigan enjoys playing the PS5 with his friends or playing Roblox. He also has a kart sim which helps him learn different tracks that he will be attending during the upcoming seasonWhen alligator hunting on an airboat in Florida a couple of years ago, Kody was lucky to get hold of a 3ft gator. He said: “It was really cool, thankfully they had the mouth tied so it would not eat me.”His grass race number is 07 as that was his dad’s when he raced. He could not use the number during MSUK events so he picked 95 as that’s Bartosz Zmarklik’s number. He’s a five-time world champion and hopes it will bring him similar successQuickfire questionsMcDonald’s or Burger King?YouTube or TV?Bath or shower?Coke or squash?Sweet or savoury?Summer or winter?Day or night?Beach or pool?Favourite food: Roast DinnersLeast favourite food: SushiFavourite TV programme: Any motorsport oneLeast favourite TV programme: Too many to chooseFavourite band/musician: AC/DCLeast favourite band/musician: Don’t knowFavourite film: The Polar ExpressLeast favourite film: Frozen