Local school boy soars to international racing success
High school student from Centurion competes in international karting races.
Nathan Parkins, an 18-year-old matric at Abbotts College in Highveld has become an international racing star. Parkins is the current national champion in the X30 shifter go-karting league, the top go-karting league in South Africa.
In 2012, Parkins became the Rok Cup International Champion, beating competitors from across the world. In 2012, he became the Rotax All Africa Senior Max Champion, and in 2014, won the X30 Shifter SA National Champion, making him the top rated kart racer in South Africa.
“The first time I got behind the wheel of a kart was when I was eight years old. The moment I got behind the wheel I fell in love with the sport. After that initial race it took two years to convince my parents to let me take part in the sport,” said Parkins, laughing.
Starting out in the 10- to 14-year-old class, Parkins eventually moved on to the 16 and older segment, where he started competing against people much older than him. In this league, he drives a formidable 125cc, six-speed go kart.
Parkins said sponsors are vital in keeping his team, RKT (Roos Kart Team) going. “A local race costs the team R65 000, while an international race costs R200 000. Without our sponsors we would not be able to do this.”
Although he has performed incredibly well in the karting leagues, Parkins’ aspirations lie much higher. “I would love to move on to the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) league in Germany. My eventual goal is to become a Formula One driver for my favourite team, Scuderia Ferrari,” added Parkins.
“We are so proud of Nathan,” said Christelle Wolmarans of Abbotts College. “At Abbotts we are really flexible with pupils’ schedules, and definitely so with Nathan. We wish him the best with his racing, and hope he becomes an international success.”
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