David speeds towards glory

By Brad Kingsbury
DAVID Sera is a teenager in a hurry.
Fortunately he is more able than most his age to do something about it, after a win in the international go-karting championship in Japan a fortnight ago propelled the Eumemmering High School VCE student into the motorsport spotlight.
The Narre Warren 17-year-old’s next challenge will be to win the world karting title in Malaysia next month before he swaps his go-kart for a Formula Ford open wheeler in next year’s national series.
Sera first drove a go-kart at the age of six and has been racing competitively since joining the midget class as a nine-year-old.
He loves the sport, as does his father George, who is a long-time member of the Oakleigh Go-Kart Club and works for David’s main sponsor, DP Karts in Clayton, owned by fellow motor sport enthusiast David Price.
“Dad did a lot of karting in his youth and when I was born I really didn’t have any choice,” David chuckled.
“It was all a bit of fun, but when I won my first state title in Tasmania and thought ‘this was fun’ and decided I wanted to do it seriously.
“When I was about 12 I decided to make the most of what I was doing.
“Dad and Mum (Giz) have been the main influences on my racing and always supported me,” he said.
Sera’s career statistics are impressive, having won two titles in midget class (seven to 10 years old), two in rookie class (11-13), three in junior class (14-16) and was national champion in his first year in the Senior (Rotox) class.
He came under notice as a driver with potential this year and was selected by Yamaha Australia and invited to race in the international event in Japan.
Sera beat a world-class field with competitors from Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong and the host country.
“I wasn’t really expecting to win,” he said.
“It was the first time at international level so I was just hoping to get some experience. To win it was awesome,” he said.