|
 |
| March 09, 2011 News |
| Factory Pilot: Gary Carlton - An American in Europe |
| |
 | Gary Carlton
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
For most of the people involved in the sport of karting could only dream of driving one as their daily job. A handful of drivers around the world have become to be known as ‘factory drivers’, piloting karts at events around the world for their respective chassis or engine manufacturer. A very select few of Americans have earned the opportunity to test their skills against of the big names in the sport. Moving away from their homes and calling Europe home under the guidance of the manufacturer, the experience was one of learning and gaining the ultimate experience to add to their resume to help the climb up the motorsports ladder.
The latest name to be added to that list is Californian Gary Carlton. Considered by many as the top shifterkart driver in North America, the now 25-year old from Marysville is teamed up with the respectable Chiesa Corse operation based in Italy to pilot their Zanardi/IAME KZ1 package in 2011.
As many karters do, Carlton began racing around the age of nine in the Northern California scene. His name came into the spotlight following his 2002 season in the Superkarts! USA S1 (Semi-Pro) category. Running with KLS Karting, Carlton earned the SKUSA Western Zone S1 title and was a nominee for the Rising Star category by Shifter Kart Illustrated. The following year, Carlton moved up to the SuperPro category, taking on the big names in shifterkart aboard a Rosso Korsa kart for KLS alongside MBA driver and longtime friend Alex Speed. After running the full season and showing promising talent, Carlton was courted to the new Kosmic Racing team prior to the 2003 SKUSA SuperNationals.
Showing promise in a new situation, Carlton would later form a partnership that changed his life. As the 2004 season reached the halfway point, Trackmagic founder and owner Fausto Vitello hired Carlton as an employee and a factory driver for the American kart manufacturer. They formed a strong friendship as Carlton grew both personally and professionally as they developed the Trackmagic FTR chassis. Carlton carried the brand as the lone driver on the national scene.
In 2005, Carlton won a Stars of Karting feature at the CARTBC national and was the runner-up at the SKUSA SuperNationals in the SuperPro class. Gunning for more success in ’06, the relationship would come to a sudden end after Vitello passed away from a massive heart attack while Carlton was at the Stars Tucson event. The next day, Carlton racked up an emotional win at the track. He maintained the momentum to win the KartSport Grand Prix in Sonoma and then put in a stellar weekend at the Stars Buffalo Bills round.
 | Carlton's time with Trackmagic boosted his life on and off the track
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
When a new group of investors purchased Trackmagic and an offer from Mike Speed came to Carton to join the former EKN Mechanic of the Year with the PCH Motorsports-CRG operation. Carlton moved on to his next challenge. Pushing on, Carlton would earn the Stars of Karting ICC national title, earn the SKUSA SuperNationals victory, and be named Driver of the Year. He repeated similar results in 2007, nearly unbeatable throughout the year as he claimed a second straight national crown and DoY honor. The year also marked his European debut, as he participated at the WSK International Series event in Sarno, Italy in the KZ2 category as part of the CRG factory team. Carlton’s performance impressed the Italian manufacturer and would lead to a more formal partnership.
Carlton spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons running both in the United States and in Europe with CRG. After adding a third American title to his resume in ’09, Carlton went full time with the CRG factory team in 2010 to campaign the WSK World Series in KZ1. Racing against a number of former world karting champions, Carlton impressed with a podium in the first two rounds, including an event on American soil in New Jersey. He would end the season third in the World Series point standings.
Last year at the 2010 SKUSA SuperNationals, Carlton began talks with Dino Chiesa of Chiesa Corse along with IAME. The group was able to put together a program to bring Carlton on board as their KZ driver and to be part of the chassis and engine development. Thus, Carlton will compete a full schedule in Europe with the new program.
To help keep up with Carlton’s travels and experiences, eKartingNews.com has teamed with him to provide an editorial program. Working with forum blogs, photo blogs, video blogs, on-board footage, and more, viewers of the website will be able to see first-hand what it is to be a factory driver for one of the top European teams in karting.
 | Carlton's big victory at the SKUSA SuperNationals in 2006 set off four straight years as the top shifterkart driver in North America
(Photo: EKN) |
As Gary travels to each event, we will be able to keep up with him during the course of the race. When there is some time between races, Gary will give us a glimpse as to what goes on behind the scenes at the factory and with the race team as they prepare for upcoming events and conduct product tests.
To keep tabs on Gary throughout the season, be sure to visit his PAGE in the Features section of the site and watch for the latest blog in the forums, the first to come this weekend as Carlton starts the WSK Euro Series in Sarno, Italy.
2011 Race Schedule for Gary Carlton
WSK Euro Series
March 13 - Sarno, Italy
April 17 - Portimao-Algarve, Portugal
June 26 - La Conca-Muro Lecesse, Italy
July 31 - Zuera-Zaragoza, Spain
CIK-FIA KZ1 European Championship
June 12 - Wackersdorf, Germany
WSK Champions Cup
July 10 - Mont Tremblant, Canada
CIK-FIA KZ1 World Cup
September 4 - Genk, Belgium
CIK-FIA Monaco Kart Cup
October 16 - Monte-Carlo, Monaco
WSK Final Cup
October 30 - Ortona, Italy |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
