![\"14-year-old](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KartMastersGP-1.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Veitch is rapidly rising through the international karting ranks. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Veitch is rapidly rising through the international karting ranks. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
Racing against adults in the fiercely competitive Senior Rotax category, he has gone from backyard fascination to podium finisher in the UK, Belgium, and Germany \u2014 all while keeping his sights firmly on Formula 1.<\/p>\n
Veitch\u2019s passion for karting began almost as soon as he could walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was about three, I saw the little mini kid karts in the farmer\u2019s market. But I wasn\u2019t old enough. So on my fourth birthday when I was old enough, I had it as my party. And I sort of just loved it from that moment,\u201d he told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n
He started with corporate \u201carrive and drive\u201d karts for several years before stepping into owner-driven karts in 2021.<\/p>\n
He progressed to club-level competition in 2022, then moved to national-level racing in 2023, stepping up to faster karts and older competitors.<\/p>\n
By 2024, he joined KR Sport, the UK team known for developing future F1 talent, and this year he moved into the senior category, competing internationally against adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything I do, I\u2019m always really competitive,\u201d Veitch said when asked what drew him to karting.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1000027277.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Veitch was into racing even as a baby. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
That competitiveness has been matched by meticulous preparation.<\/p>\n
He trains weekly with a coach in a high-end simulator, complete with a seat angled like an F1 car, force-feedback steering, and realistic pedals.<\/p>\n
Alongside that, he works with performance coach Enzo Mucci \u2014 who also works with F1 drivers Liam Lawson and Ollie Bearman \u2014 reviewing track data, refining racecraft, and preparing for the transition into single-seater cars.<\/p>\n
He also follows a physical training program tailored to karting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s intense, but it\u2019s definitely gotten easier,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got more used to it because I\u2019ve been doing it for quite a while. So it\u2019s definitely tough, but it\u2019s manageable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recovering from a crash in Belgium during a wet night race in 2024, which broke his hand and forced six weeks out of the car, added further complications to his training.<\/p>\n
His father, Paul, recalled the moment of the crash.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the adrenaline, you\u2019re not supposed to, but I just ran on to the track,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re just dealing with what\u2019s happening. Getting to the hospital. And then in the ambulance. He had to have a full spine CT, things like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut then once they confirmed [there was no spinal damage] then it kind of calmed down a bit after that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThinking about it afterwards, when you\u2019re racing at this level, you have to be prepared that they\u2019re potentially going to get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kai added that even during recovery, his focus remained on returning stronger.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was definitely thinking about that, but at that exact moment I was relieved, but I wasn\u2019t desperate to get back in because I was still in pain,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut definitely the morning after, I was thinking, I really want to drive today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following his recovery, 2025 brought career-defining moments.<\/p>\n
At the prestigious Kartmasters British Grand Prix in August, Veitch faced a technical issue that forced him to start the pre-final from 27th.<\/p>\n
He fought his way up to 13th to secure a start in the final and then staged a stunning climb through the field.<\/p>\n
On the last lap, he executed a daring three-kart overtake in a narrow 90-degree right-hander to claim third.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KartMastersGP-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Veitch (right) on the podium after his stunning podium finish. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that moment it felt good, but I was really still just focused on the driving, because there\u2019s still a couple corners left,\u201d Veitch recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just covered the corner, sent it, went in extra hard to make sure no one could overtake me. And then I just crossed the line. I relaxed, but I was just in disbelief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celebrating on the podium, he shared the moment with his mechanic.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we drive up the grid as number one, two and three, I celebrated with my mechanic there. And there\u2019s just that moment of \u2018what has just happened?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Veitch also had the chance to work alongside Australian F1 star Oscar Piastri in a Formula 4 simulator, gaining firsthand insight into the speed, control, and strategic thinking that separates F1 drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can really see the difference between either a normal person and an F1 driver, because he\u2019s just aggressive but he\u2019s controlled with it. And he can carry speed you didn\u2019t think he could,\u201d Veitch said, adding that he even managed to beat the McLaren driver in one simulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did last lap battle, and actually I did come out in front. I benefited, because they made some contact. I then got in front and actually managed to hold him off for a lap. So I actually won it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piastri\u2019s response was understated but encouraging.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said well done. But he is, like on camera, he\u2019s very relaxed. He doesn\u2019t get overly excited. But he was like, well done. That\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balancing rigorous training, international racing, and school, Veitch relies on online education through Minerva Virtual Academy, which allows him to maintain academic progress while travelling.<\/p>\n
His focus on fitness and mental preparation ensures he can handle the physical and cognitive demands of high-level karting.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if I\u2019m physically not struggling, I can make better decisions and race better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Veitch is already preparing for the next step in his career: British F4 in 2026.<\/p>\n
He has completed simulator and car testing sessions and continues to refine his skills under the guidance of Mucci and KR Sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll get to do that in a couple of months. But I\u2019ve done lots of hours on the simulator,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The plan is to take the traditional single-seater ladder to F1, a path that has motivated him from the start.<\/p>\n
Veitch\u2019s journey, though only four years into serious competition, reflects a blend of natural talent, structured preparation, and sheer determination.<\/p>\n
He cites F1 role models like Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri but also emphasised the importance of personal grit.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. I mean if there wasn\u2019t a final goal, there\u2019d be no motivation really,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The dream of standing on a F1 podium and hearing the Australian national anthem remains a driving force.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can definitely imagine myself up there with that as well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kai Veitch is rapidly rising through the international karting ranks. Image: Supplied Racing against adults in the fiercely…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":270411,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[64,63,817,813,816,157347,2333,9910,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-270410","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-f1","11":"tag-formula-1","12":"tag-formula1","13":"tag-kai-veitch","14":"tag-oscar-piastri","15":"tag-slot2","16":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}