Marino Franchitti set for chairty karting event

Jan 13 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

MARINO FRANCHITTI is returning to where it all began for him in the world of motorsport as he gets back inside a kart.

The Bathgate-born race ace, who is now an established endurance driver in the prestigious ALMS, began his career in Scottish karting as a starry eyed eight-year-old.

Now the former winner of the West of Scotland Kart Club Championship, the Scottish Open Championship and the Scottish Pro-Kart Championship has signed up to compete in David Brabham’s Celebrity Karting Challenge which is taking place today (Thursday).

Brabham heads up an organisation called Racing 4 Charity which hosts an annual Celebrity Karting Challenge every January as part of Autosport International held at the NEC in Birmingham.

As the only motorsport event of its kind in the UK, the Celebrity Karting Challenge enables members of the public to battle wheel-to-wheel with their motor racing heroes.

Each of the 20 teams will contain two members of the public who pay for the fun of racing with four professional drivers, and all the monies raised goes to charity.

This year the funds raised will go to the children’s charity Starlight – an organisation which brings enjoyment into the lives of seriously and terminally ill children, many of whom are afraid and in pain.

It grants them wishes and creates innovative entertainment in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK.

It is there for children and their families in their time of need, lifting children's spirits in hospitals, making dreams come true, strengthening family bonds and creating happy memories for everyone to share and cherish, whatever the future holds.

Marino has supported and participated in the Celebrity Karting Challenge for the last few years, frequently heading up his own team of drivers, but this year David has asked Marino to join his team.

Along with David and Marino will be David’s son Sam, the third generation of Brabham drivers just starting out on his karting career, and up-and-coming karting star Oscar King.

Marino said: “I always enjoy the chance to get back in a kart, and when it’s supporting my team-mate David’s charity event, it makes it even more special.

“After the holiday season it will be great to catch up with a lot of my racing friends, though I think David and I will be relying on our secret weapons, Sam and Oscar, to help us get the win.”