By Australian Kart Championship
MONTALBANO: “I’VE LOST THIS CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR TIMES!”
Current Penrite Australian Kart Championship KA3 Senior series leader Benito Montabano knows the pain of feeling a title slip through his hands.
The 24-year-old Western Sydney car salesman has led the national series in multiple classes four times since 2016 and been in the top three an additional three times, however a national championship trophy is still missing from the mantlepiece.
“It’s been heartbreaking,” he concedes. “To be so close so many times has been cruel, so I had to have some time away from the sport in 2024 to see if there was a life outside of karting. I just buried myself in work and watching other sports, just so I knew that if and when I came back, I would know I gave myself the best chance to totally disconnect and come back with a clear head.”
Since returning in 2026, his “clear head” produced a breakthrough win at Townsville and boosted his points to the top of the KA3 Senior table.
“In some ways, we’re surprised by the results coming so quickly after returning because we’ve literally done no testing or practice, but on the other hand we’re not surprised because we would never have come back if we didn’t think we could run at the front.”
“The secret is and always has been having the right people in my corner. Shayne Piper, Remo Luciano and also the crew at DPE are a big factor, but a major contributor is my dad. We race have always raced together and that will never change.”
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“Pucka is going to be extra special for me. It’s Father’s Day weekend and to celebrate the best dad I could ever ask for and be at the AKC doing what we live together will be perfect regardless of the outcome.”
Benito’s dad Mick is a parochial Italian born in Palermo, while mum Michelle is of Maltese heritage, gifting Benito a strong sense of family loyalty and hospitality spiced with some fiery emotion.
“Mum isn’t too comfortable with watching me race. She gets too nervous, but dad is very passionate about our racing and loves nothing more than making sure everything is right for me to go out on the track with the best possible setup. I may have to organise some Arancini balls or something else uniquely Palermitano to celebrate him on Father’s Day, but a win would definity the best way to reward him for his amazing support.”
The KA3 Championship is one of the tightest across the eight classes in the 2026 championship, with only 9 points separating the top four. Montalbano is just two points ahead of fellow FA Kart racer Kip Foster and only another five points back to Zac Findlay in third.
“To beat any of these guys is very satisfying, because you know they are absolutely the best of the best. Here’s hoping we can make this year stick and grab that trophy!”
7+ will once again host the live coverage of the championship on Saturday September 5 from 12:30pm and 11:30am on Sunday September 6.
The Eastern Lions Kart Club’s Hume International Raceway is 20 minutes west of Seymour on Seymour Tooborac Road and 10 minutes south of Puckapunyal and offers free entry for spectators along with excellent amenities, and refreshments available for purchase.
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