Sacha van 't Pad Bosch represents KNAF in FIA Karting Academy 2024: "Expects to compete at the front"

Sacha van 't Pad Bosch will represent the Netherlands in this year's FIA Karting Academy Trophy. The 14-year-old karting talent from Nijkerk was selected by the KNAF (Dutch Motorsport Federation) based on his achieved results and rapid progression. The FIA Karting Academy Trophy comprises three competitions in which 51 karting talents from almost as many countries from all over the world compete against each other using identical equipment. "It's super fun to be able to take part in this. I expect to compete at the front and my goal is to win," Van 't Pad Bosch said decisively.

Sacha van 't Pad Bosch, who turned 14 in February, has gone through a stormy development within karting in recent years. After sitting on a rental go-kart once at the age of 7, the go-kart virus soon caught him. After a few more indoor karting sessions, the young Van 't Pad Bosch spent the necessary hours on the outdoor kart track in Lelystad. There, his talent was noticed and he came into contact with Peter de Bruijn. At the age of eight, that was the start of a karting career in competition. In recent years, the karting talent competed in classes such as Rotax Micromax, Mini X30, Junior X30 and OK-J, achieving many national and international successes. Among others, Van 't Pad Bosch captured the title in the IAME Benelux Mini, followed last year by the title in the IAME Benelux Junior class. In addition, there were several titles, numerous victories and podium finishes, regardless of the class in which the Nijkerker appeared at the start.

All this was therefore the basis on which the KNAF decided to select Van 't Pad Bosch to represent the KNAF and the Netherlands in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. "Super fun that I get to take part in that. I know both the material being driven and the circuits. I will be preparing with onboard video footage and on the SIM. I have come across several competitors in races before and have always beaten them. I therefore expect to compete at the front. My goal is to win, but that is always my goal, no matter which race I go to," said an extremely enthusiastic Van 't Pad Bosch.

This year, Van 't Pad Bosch combines his participation in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy with the title fight in the IAME Series Benelux, in which he competes in the X30 Senior class, the category for drivers aged 14 to 29! In addition, Van 't Pad Bosch is preparing for a planned switch to motor racing. This year, he is working through an 18-day test schedule with a Spanish Formula 4 team. Based on his talent, progression and future prospects, Van 't Pad Bosch was earlier this year included in the KNAF Talent Junior Academy, one of the components of KTF Academy, the KNAF's talent development programme.

The FIA Karting Academy Trophy is a competition set up by the World Governing Karting and Motorsport Federation FIA, which can only be entered by karting talents aged 12 to 14, delegated from national motorsport federations. In order to keep the odds as even as possible, completely identical equipment is used, with karts assigned to the drivers by drawing lots and engine changes between them during the event. The FIA Karting Academy Trophy comprises three rounds. The title race kicks off at the French Val d'Argenton circuit (25 - 28 April), followed by the Slovak Karting Centre in Slovakia (20 - 23 June), while the final will be held from 1 to 4 August in Kristianstad, Sweden.

The most famous winner of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy is current Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, who won the championship in 2011. The Netherlands also has a more than excellent track record in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. In 2014, Richard Verschoor captured the title, while in the same year Rinus van Kalmthout seized third position. In 2016, Kas Haverkort finished in third place, in 2017 the Netherlands also had drivers with Tijmen van der Helm (2nd) and in 2019 with Robert de Haan (3rd) who managed to seize a podium position in the final standings. Van 't Pad Bosch's goal may be clear, to follow in Richard Verschoor's footsteps and take the first prize back to the Netherlands.