Jay Urwin, the talented 15-year-old karter from Waikato, New Zealand, successfully defended his national title over Easter weekend at the Kartsport New Zealand Championships in Blenheim.
Last year, at just 14 years old, Jay made history by dominating the KZ2 Shifter class. This names him the youngest karting champion in open competition, in New Zealand sporting history.
Jay secured victory in the final with a gap of more than three seconds over second place, additionally clinching the fastest lap. His ability to lead the pack with such a margin highlights how his experience greatly outweighs his age. Jay faced pressure over the weekend, and despite being knocked off the track in the pre-final, he showed resilience by racing his way from the back of the field up to fifth. His mother, Vanessa Quin, remarked, “Jay seems to be able to deliver when it matters and that’s a character trait that’s just there.”
In February, Jay delivered another commanding performance winning the 2024 New Zealand Karting Grand Prix in Hamilton, outperforming a field of the country’s top KZ2 drivers, notably including Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Red Bull reserve driver. Jay’s exceptional talent was once again showcased at the SuperKarts USA ProTour in Orlando on March 10th, securing bronze among 26 of the most elite kart drivers from around the world.
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Jay expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m really happy to take out back to back national titles, so a massive thanks to BirelART and PSL Karting for their support.”
He added, “This has set me up for returning to the US at the end of the month for the first round of the Stars Championship Kart Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina.”
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