Arthur eyes European success

Arthur Broughan’s speedy ascent of New Zealand’s karting ranks will take him all the way to Europe next month.

The Marlborough Boys’ College Year 10 student has been selected by KartSport NZ to represent his country at the prestigious FIA Junior Karting Academy Trophy series.

Thirteen-year-old Arthur will be the only Team NZ driver in the three-round trophy championship series, his selection a testament to recent success, including 2022 South Island and national schools titles in the Rotax junior class.

The FIA Karting Academy Trophy series is a hugely exciting proposition for the Marlborough youngster. It involves 54 drivers, each from a different nation, aged between 12 and 14, and has been running since 2010.

Chassis, engines and tyres are identical for every participant, who draw lots for their equipment. The engines are exchanged regularly during each event. The series takes place on renowned circuits at the same time as other FIA Karting Championships, allowing the Academy Trophy to share attention and media coverage.

Since 2010, several drivers who have participated in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy have risen to the pinnacle of motorsport – namely F1 drivers Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Esteban Ocon.

Arthur will be based in Europe for three months, attending FIA Academy Trophy race meetings in the Czech Republic, Denmark and Italy. Spliced in between the major events are three lower-ranked Champions of the Future meets, providing a wealth of racing and a chance to gain experience in what will be unfamiliar set-ups.

Arthur’s father, Matt Broughan, says there are a few obvious differences when it comes to racing in Europe.

“There will be higher numbers in each race and quite a bit of a change in how the kart will handle, especially with so much more rubber on the tracks.

“It is a completely different strategy over there to what we employ here. In New Zealand we run low-grip tyres, over there they are more grippy so it is just about understanding and responding quickly to those differences.

“The Europeans will have an advantage early on but Arthur has always been pretty quick to adapt, so I think we will do alright.

“The way [the series] is run shows that the organisers are firmly focussed on looking for new talent, looking for something they don’t know about.”

Arthur says the excitement levels are building as flight time approaches.

“It still feels pretty unreal, but it will be awesome once we get over there,” he said.

He has been watching “lots of videos” of European racing and says the drivers are “more aggressive” and admits it will be a challenge.

The forthcoming trip will be very much a family affair, the entire Broughan clan accompanying Arthur abroad.

Matt is the KartSport Marlborough vice-president, Arthur’s Mainland-based mechanic and right-hand man; Mum Lynne, who hails from Scotland, plays a major supporting role behind the scenes in the club; sister Maisie (15) works in the club shop on race days while younger brother Frank (12) is labelled “a very keen supporter”.

Arthur has a couple of strong role models, fellow clubmate William Exton, who is currently racing in the Toyota 86 class, and his grandfather, David Taylor, who he navigated alongside in the World Rally Championship round in Auckland last year, the first such combination in the history of the WRC.

He says his long-term ambition is “always to get to Formula One or V8 Supercars but of course the chances of that happening are slim … actually, racing anything for money would be pretty cool.”

However, the quietly-spoken youngster’s not one to get ahead of himself, content to make the most of a sport he has been involved in since he was eight-years-old.

“I really enjoy the strategy of karting, making the moves, and the really cool moments when you win,” he added.

Realistic practise being vitally important, Arthur can be found at the local track most days, training in a Vortex ROK, similar to what he will be using abroad.

He plans to race it in the forthcoming Blenheim leg of the 2023 Kartstars series, staged at the KartSport Marlborough track on March 18-19, then the national champs in Palmerston North in early April.

While you can be assured his eyes will be firmly fixed on the track ahead, you could excuse Arthur for having visions of forthcoming European rivalry with the trip of a lifetime just around the corner.