10-year-old boy is the only black driver in the category and started karting after a 'bet' with his father

Luciano Guimarães knew indoor karting was for his son João Seixas the moment he competed in his first race. At just eight years old at the time, the boy was ecstatic after a lap around a racetrack in a Rio de Janeiro shopping mall. Today, at 10, he has won several championships and is a standout in his category, being the only Black driver.

In an interview with Terra , the little boy says he's always been passionate about cars, especially fast ones. "I really liked cars, and I still do. I used to watch the Lightning McQueen cartoon from Hot Wheels," he explains.

"He's interested in cars, in this whole motorsports thing, and it's his thing. We never forced him, we don't force him. It came from him. [...] An indoor go-kart track was being built near our house, in a shopping mall. And then he'd come and say, 'Dad, I want to go go-karting, Dad, I want to go go-karting,'" says his father.

Luciano explained to the little boy that it wasn't a bumper car, like those in amusement parks, but a fast vehicle. However, João continued to insist. Thus, the agreement between father and son came about.

"We agreed on the following: 'If you pass the year, you'll go for a go-kart ride, okay? Okay.' He studied really hard, dedicated himself, and at the end of the year, he passed, and we took him there," recalls Luciano.

Luckily, the first time he went, there weren't many visitors. The go-kart owner suggested taking the boy along to show him around. "To my surprise, he did really well. He was already accelerating. He didn't spin out, he didn't crash. I thought he'd get into a mess. Nothing, he did really well," he said.

“I remember he just floated away. He came to my wife and said, 'Mommy, I know! I want to be a professional kart driver.'”

After just a month of training, João joined a team and signed up for his first championship, at the Guapimirim International Karting Track. From then on, he never stopped. He currently competes in the Cadet category, for ages 8 to 11.

"We're going to invest in him as much as we can because it's the sport that makes his eyes shine, and as I see it, it's also a parent's duty to give their child full support when they do something they love," said Luciano.

The boy's father points out that, although João is an athlete, he's still a child. For this reason, his studies and well-being are priorities. "He can't do well in karting and not do well in school. And he works hard in these areas."

"There's also a concern, right? Karting is a dangerous sport. It's associated with risk because of the high speeds and short decision-making times. When he gets in and is accelerating, doing laps, whether in training or competition, he has decisions to make. [...] So, we're always with him, supporting him, explaining... so he doesn't get hurt and doesn't hurt anyone else, which is very important. That way, everyone gets in safe, has fun, and leaves well," says the father.

Preparation for the slopes

The boy wants to be a professional driver and compete in Stock Car , the largest motorsports category in South America. This requires a lot of dedication. Training takes place every Saturday, from 7:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On race week, he also goes on Friday.

The preparation continues right before he steps onto the track. According to Luciano, the boy is focused when he competes. "I concentrate completely. I don't let anything distract me. I don't let anything disturb me. I don't get distracted. I'm focused on winning first place," says João.

The biggest obstacle to realizing the boy's dream is the lack of sponsors. "Karting is a high-investment sport. Just to sit and line up on the grid, to compete, is very expensive. It's very expensive. To be at the front and win races, that's absurdly expensive. So, we try to provide all the support we can. We're not rich; we're a middle-class family. We do what we can to ensure he has the opportunity to have fun," Luciano explains.

The family emphasizes that João needs a series of equipment to ensure his performance and safety on the track. These include a proper, approved kart helmet, a telemetry device, a neck protector, a rain suit, and new shoes.

Representation in motorsport

As the only Black driver in his category, João's family explains that they talk to the boy about representation and the importance of the position he's achieved. "[This is repeated] in various aspects of his life, not just in karting. There are also few Black children at school. So, from an early age, we try to show him that he doesn't have to feel diminished. Quite the opposite," Luciano emphasizes.

“I remember that when he was much younger, he said to us: 'Oh, Dad, I think black people in Brazil are rare, right?'. I said: 'What do you mean? It's not that rare, no.' [He replied:] 'No, at my school there are few black children who study with me,'” recalls the father.

Guimarães explains that he seeks to demonstrate this representation through other Black drivers in motorsports, such as Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton . On one occasion, the youngster met Léo Rufino , a Black Formula Truck athlete. "He exchanges messages. He calls João 'little brother. My little brother.'"

João explains that his dream is to see more Black children like him on the track, and he took the opportunity to offer advice: "May they always believe they can overcome challenges and never give up on their goals and dreams. May they always believe in themselves and never let anyone tell them they can't or can't do it! May they push forward with everything they have."