AS he rounded the final lap of the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero racetrack in Valencia, La Lucia resident, Cristiano Morgado (left), took time out to reflect on a watershed year. The 35-year-old took part in the DD2 Rotax Max Finals Karting World Championship.

Last year he became the first driver in karting history to win four titles and the first person in the history of the event to win three times in a row. In Spain, he was looking to extend that record.

However, mother nature had a different plan, as the heavens opened up, flooding the track with torrential rain.

“I had the lead throughout the qualifiers and then in the final race there was such heavy rain. In the pit we gambled by pumping the tyres up with high pressure, which gives you less grip, but prevents aqua planing. The other driver from Finland who was the race winner, did the opposite, and he gained more traction and managed to get it right,” he said.

Despite finishing second, Morgado ended the year on a high, winning the SA Karting Champs, the African Karting Champs and the European Cup. His efforts at the World Karting Champs also saw Team SA win the Nations Cup.

“I trained really hard this year and competed in a lot of races. I took part in the European Championships and though I didn’t win in the finals, I’m proud of my efforts. It’s been a good run and I’m aiming to come back stronger next year,” he said.

Morgado, who takes a break in December, said he hopes to compete in tour car racing from next year to add another element to his racing.