Melbourne-based JND Racing has announced a pathway to competitive European karting with an alliance with Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management and the DPK Racing team in Europe.
Spearheaded by Nick Percat, JND’s link with the Alonso Kart brand is set to become even stronger. DPK Racing is a top Spanish karting team and fellow FA Kart representative.
The alliance will offer guidance for young drivers and their parents looking to make the move to Europe, while there is also scope for European talent to head to Australia and race with JND.
“From the JND side it’s very exciting” said Percat.
“We want to give kids the opportunity to be in contact with the right people in Europe. It’s a passion of mine, that side of the business. For us, it’s not all about the karting – it’s about providing the guidance they need to get to Supercars, IndyCar, F1, whatever they want to do.
“To be able to link up with A14 and Fernando and his management team is crucial to that. We now have friends in Europe that can help guide the parents as much as the kids about how to make that move. And on the DPK side, its a world-class karting team and back-to-back world champions so there’s an opportunity for us to help send a driver over to compete at top events, even the world championships. It can be difficult to find an opening in a big team like that without the right support.
“It’s great to have this link. And if we can put together the right programme we’d love to bring some of their star drivers over to do a couple of rounds of the Australian Karting Championship. That would amazing.”
The JND outfit plans to run a nine-strong line-up in the 2024 Australian Kart Championship.
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In the announcement, A14 Management said:
“Delighted to collaborate with such a highly regarded team in the Australian championship, as is the case with JND Racing, and one with whom we share values.
“Our aim is to provide an opportunity for young Australian talents to come to Europe under the support of DPK, a guarantee of quality and now an integral part of the A14 family, just as JND will be from now on.
“At A14, we are constantly seeking new talents. Having a partner who can track their development in the grassroots categories is of paramount importance to us, as it provides accurate references, not only on the track but also regarding their behavior. So far, we’ve addressed this aspect with Diego and Pablo in Europe; however, expanding this initiative to Oceania represents a significant milestone in the ongoing growth of our company.”
Diego and Pablo Rodriguez of DPK Racing added:
“We are happy to announce a collaboration agreement with JND Racing and A14 Management, with the shared objective of further strengthening the FA Kart brand internationally and the dedication to further developing future talents.
“The FA Kart brand has been brilliantly represented in Australia in recent years by JND Racing, and this arrangement will allow us to find and share drivers who want to compete in Oceania and Europe.
“It gives us great pleasure to collaborate with A14 Management to find and develop young talent while instilling in them the qualities that have guided us throughout our history: passion, dedication and teamwork.”
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