Young karters driven to push limits on and off the track

Racing has at times been a lonely endeavor for Singaporean karter Kareen Kaur.

- Kimberly Kwek

During her early cadet and junior years, she was often the only girl in the drivers' briefing room and felt the need to prove herself each time she raced.

In order to be competitive against her male peers, who are sometimes more than twice her age, the 14-year-old trains nearly every day to build strength and stamina. Her routine includes a daily 3km run, high-intensity gym sessions and racing practice at least twice a week.

Strength is crucial, especially for Kareen, who is 48kg and races with a 25kg weight attached to her kart to meet the minimum weight requirement. The additional weight makes the kart slower and more difficult to control while going at high speeds of up to 120kmh.

Despite these challenges, the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Secondary student remains undeterred. She said: "The pressure is immense, but I refuse to let it hold me back. Honestly, once the helmet is on, I feel we are all just competitors, not a male or a female."