10-year old who survived heart surgery, on brink of historic title victory.
A young Milton Keynes kart driver stands one race away from an amazing ‘perfect score’ season of wins.
Gillen Townshend, of Olney, only turned 10 this month, but he's set to become the Milton Keynes Daytona In-Kart Cadet champion. It’s a huge victory for the boy who, as a baby, had open heart surgery in Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He knows he is already champion before going into the final race of the season, but the competitive racer is hoping to secure the coveted ‘perfect score' of maximum wins in a season.
If he wins the last race on 13th July, he will achieve his dream - the maximum points possible for each round is 61 and, over the course of six rounds, Gillen wants to achieve a whopping 366 points. If he doesn’t win, he will finish just one point adrift as your best six scores count at the end of the season.
Milton Keynes Daytona’s 1,360 metre outdoor track was originally designed by British Formula One legend James Hunt, and the ‘International Circuit‘, which Gillen races on, is widely considered one of the UK’s most challenging racing tracks, comprising eleven corners, hairpins, chicanes and an uphill straight.
Gillen started at Daytona as a Bambino when he was just six and, as a Cadet, he’s worked his way through the podium places, having previously finished third, then second.
“I was very pleased with my 2nd and 3rd places,” said Gillen “But everyone really wants to be first, and I’m so proud to have got here.”
While it might have been tempting to wrap him in cotton wool after his difficult start in life, his parents have not let his condition define him or prevent him from achieving his dreams.
“Luckily when he wanted to start karting, his consultant told him to go for it, as there was no problem with him racing,” said mum Laura. “We didn’t know what difficulties he might face, but they said to treat him the same as any other kid. He now takes his trophies to show his consultant when he has his annual check-ups at Great Ormond Street.”
“It’s so brilliant to see Gil’s passion for racing,” added dad Martin. “It’s clear he’s naturally extremely talented at karting, but we have no idea where he’s got it from. We never had any interest in motorsports, so it’s all come from him. Now he wants to go as far as he can and actually become a racing driver.”
It’s Gillen’s hope that he can continue to progress with racing and to keep on getting podiums in forthcoming championships. But it won’t be easy – or cheap.
“It’s a very expensive hobby, especially if you want to make it your career,” explained Gillen. “My parents support me as much as they possibly can and they’re proud whether I win or lose, but unfortunately, we don’t have thousands of pounds in the bank. It’s sad because even if you’re really good, you can’t always progress because it costs such a lot.
“Everyone always asks if I want to get to Formula One, and obviously that would be amazing, but I just love racing, so I hope I can make it my job when I’m older, in whatever form that takes, and show people that dreams really can come true.”
Follow Gillen’s journey on social media: @gillentownshendracing. For sponsorship inquiries email: gillentownshendracing@outlook.com.
