From Local to Global: The Story of KartClass Alumni

Quick Summary

KartClass alumni have progressed from local karting tracks to national and international racing through structured coaching, racecraft education, and mentorship led by David Sera. Their journeys show that karting success is driven more by guidance, mindset, and training quality than by where or when a driver starts.

The thrill of victory in karting belongs to those who find the limit. Achieving this at a professional level takes years of hard work and consistent improvement, supported every step of the way by mentors with years of experience under their belt. In this article, we dive into the karting success stories of three drivers and how KartClass propelled them to wins and championships at the grassroots karting level.

Meet the Drivers

Under the tutelage of multi-time race winner and Australian kart champion David Sera, KartClass has bred many up-and-coming talent that have stood their ground against some of the best karters the world has to offer. Here are their karting success stories and trackside training experiences.

Source: KartSportNews

Starting his career at the age of six in the Philippines, William Calleja took a leap of faith after moving to Australia a year later where he started competing at various national karting championships across Australia. Following consistent success, the seasoned karter took his talents to Europe, nabbing multiple podiums and wins, a clear example of karting from local to international.

Source: RACER

Around the same time, Brad Majman was also making his mark in the Australian karting scene. Starting in 2016 at the age of seven, the swift Aussie has gone on to achieve success in competitive karting such as a victory at the 2019 SKUSA Supernats in the Micro Swift Category. Since then, he has successfully made the transition to single-seaters, becoming a multi-time race winner in Formula 4.

Finally, despite being a relatively late starter to karting, Aryan Narola is a testament to how karting to professional racing can happen even from modest beginnings. Starting only two years ago at the age of 14 in rental karts, the American displayed glimpses of potential before moving to Australia to be coached by Sera. Teaching everything from race craft to kart maintenance, in his own words, KartClass made him “10 times better at racing.”

The Early Days – Local Track Challenges:

Success did not come easy for these speedy racers, as they were not spared from setbacks early in their career. Although he possessed strong raw pace, Calleja struggled with consistency in his results. Even when Calleja traversed over to Europe, challenges persisted as the style of racing was worlds apart from what he experienced in Australia.  Despite this, he kept a strong mental outlook in the face of adversity.

“My first few races in Australia had different results based on the type of Championship I was competing in. For example, I was running at the top in the Victorian Country Series championship while I found myself struggling in the Australian Karting Championship,” Calleja said.

Similarly, Majman faced growing pains in nailing the basics. From racing lines to kart feedback, the Aussie struggled, which was reflected in his race results. Narola, on the other hand, took a little more time to find his footing. He recalls multiple instances where he would feel lost, having to figure things out along the way:

“I only did rental karting before kart class, but [I did] not really know what I was doing. I was just driving, not knowing if I was doing something wrong or not,” Narola stated.

Their early struggles highlight that even the most talented drivers had to face challenges at the start of their careers. But as we’ll see, given the right guidance and wisdom, they were on the brink of achieving feats beyond their wildest imagination.

Training and Transformation

Source: David Sera

With the guidance of seasoned people from the industry like KartClass, they soon saw success not long after. 

Case in point, Calleja availed of KartClass’ Champions Club Program where over six months, he received expert guidance on braking, race starts, wet conditions, and mental strength. In addition, he learned proven strategies from seasoned professionals that accelerated his growth:

“I have matured more as a driver. [Since then], I have won a championship and multiple race wins upon joining KartClass.” he affirms.

Aside from detailed programs, Sera’s own racing team has also taken the likes of Majman to greater heights. From struggling with the basics, Majman’s turning point came when Sera established his driver development program in 2019. As a member of the team’s inaugural lineup, his career has since skyrocketed:

“Dave [Sera] has taught me to be a complete driver, including sharing little tips that only someone of his experience would know,” Majman expressed.

Even with the late start, Narola has experienced tremendous growth under Sera and KartClass. Going from Baltimore to Australia, the American spent almost a month taking in everything both on and off-track. Following immense growth and development, his talents have translated to open wheel racing, now moving to Formula racing for the next chapter of his career.

Lessons Learned from Their Journeys

As we’ve seen from these three, their long and arduous journeys have since blossomed into careers with the help of KartClass. However, it can be seen that while they have different trajectories, they all have similar traits that allow them to excel at what they do.

For one, the eagerness to get on track is there. Their stories have shown that their beginnings did not define them. Regardless of where they started, they found a way to get on track by any means necessary. In addition, these drivers possess inherent confidence in their abilities. We have seen that even during race weekends that don’t go their way, their belief never wavers and they always will themselves to the next race, bearing with them the learnings they gained in the process:

“They [Karting drivers] can forget things quickly and move on. This is important to ensure that the mind stays focused on the task at hand rather than being distracted about previous mistakes or mechanical issues,” said Calleja. 

To those who wish to follow in their footsteps, these drivers offer unique insight on how you can follow in their footsteps. The likes of Calleja and Narola acknowledge how success is not a one-man show, describing how teamwork makes the dream work. Additionally, trusting the changes made is also paramount.

Finally, for Majman, he states the importance of simply living in the moment. Not many have this opportunity to get on-track. Therefore, one should make it count when the opportunity presents itself:

“Try to be a sponge, if you can absorb all the information from your mentors, parents, coaches and whoever else, you will be better for it. Every bit of learning and education they give you is for a good and valid reason, and you are better off to absorb this information than to let it slip,” Majman describes.

 

Your Turn to Start the Journey

Source: David Sera

If they can do it, so can you. The world of karting may seem daunting to many. But in reality, with the right people on your side, karting becomes a sport that everyone can enjoy! With KartClass, led by multi-time race winner and Australian karting champion David Sera, gain valuable knowledge and expertise backed by over a decade of experience. So what are you waiting for? Book a coach today and take your racing to the next level!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you need to start karting at a very young age to succeed?

While starting young can help, Aryan Narola’s journey shows that with the right coaching and mindset, even late starters can progress quickly and reach professional racing opportunities.

2. What role does coaching play in karting success?

Structured coaching provides technical guidance, racecraft development, and mental training that help drivers overcome early struggles and achieve consistent results.

3. How does KartClass help drivers improve their race performance?

KartClass offers personalized programs focusing on braking, starts, wet conditions, kart setup, and mental strength, all guided by experienced professionals like David Sera.

4. Is karting experience transferable to higher levels of racing?

Yes, strong foundations in karting have helped drivers like Brad Majman and Aryan Narola transition successfully into single-seaters and formula racing.

5. What mindset is essential for young karting drivers?

The ability to learn quickly, stay confident after setbacks, and absorb feedback from coaches and mentors is crucial for long-term growth in karting.