Jude Cole – the name to watch out for in go-karting

Jude Cole, in Year 8, is rapidly becoming the name to watch in go-karting. Although Jude only started karting in February 2019, this didn’t stop him beating drivers with far more experience and winning his first race of the year at Teeside Autodrome.  He then went on to perform extremely well at the Rowrah track in Cockermouth, in Cumbria, where after a hard day’s racing, including a spin in the final, he took third place.

Jude’s interest in karting started when his Dad took him to the local track in Teesside and it was immediately apparent that he was a natural behind the wheel. He entered the Teesside sprint series, which consisted of nine rounds of which Jude competed in eight.  He achieved a podium in all but one round, where he was caught up in a crash.

After talking over the winter months, and deciding what Jude would would like to do for the 2020 season, he plans to carry on supporting his local track at Teesside, racing in their sprint series, but also building on his driving skills by competing in the Rowrah and Sunderland’s Warden Law championships. This race season will consist of around eighteen rounds so a very busy calendar, as well as test days, to perfect the kart set up and driving skills.

Jude’s first kart was a Tony kart, which Jude purchased for a couple of hundred pounds with his own money.  However, as Jude’s talent quickly became evident, it was clear that he needed something more reliable for the 2020 season.  He is most appreciative to his cousin, Kayls Cole, an accomplished go-kart driver from Cork in Ireland.  Kayls generously passed down her 2018 Mad Croc kart to Jude. This features an Italian chassis and, depending on the circuit, is capable of top speeds of 60-90mph.

Jude gets enormous satisfaction from racing. He has very mature race craft which has been great for building a large social circle. He also hopes this can lead to a career in motorsport engineering and driving. Well done Jude, keep up the great work!