By Jamie Salter
Ever since Charlee Zammit got behind the wheel at age 11, karting has become her life’s passion.
The Narre Warren South resident recently had the opportunity to compete for the first time in almost a year on February 5 after Covid-19 lockdowns pressed the pause button on competitive racing.
Charlee said there was nothing quite like the thrill of being back on the track.
“It makes me really happy to be in that environment,” she said.
“I was a bit nervous to be out there again but I felt right back at home after the qualifying and heat races.”
When Charlee is racing, she travels as fast as 100km/h.
“You can’t really tell you’re going that fast,” she said.
Her dad Anthony introduced Charlee to the sport and the pair trained for a year before Charlee entered her first competition in 2016.
“I was building a trailer and she came out and said, ‘is that for me?’ Anthony said.
Anthony is known as Charlee’s mechanic, checking the engine and changing the tyres prior to an upcoming race.
Race meetings take place at tracks across Australia every weekend at four levels – Club, Zonal, State or National.
Charlee started racing in Cadets (ages nine to 13) then Juniors (ages 13 to 16) and then Senior racing (ages 16 and above).
Although Charlee competes with adults in the Seniors category, she said she wasn’t intimidated.
“It’s just about trying to get the fastest time and trying to get past other people and get quicker every lap,” Charlee said.
Motorsport has often been considered a male-dominated sport and mum Sandra said Charlee was one of the only girls in competing in karting.
“It’s not widely accessible to girls – everyone probably thinks it’s a man’s sport,” she said.
As a concerned mother, Sandra struggles to watch Charlee fly down the track.
“She had an incident when a kart went right over her and she had a tyre mark on her helmet,” Sandra said.
Charlee’s dedication keeps her going while spending long days on the track, usually from 6am to 6pm.
The sport is extremely expensive as the costs of tyres, engine rebuilds, accommodation, and travel add up, with races held in Adelaide, Gippsland, Puckapunyal, Seymour as well as Port Melbourne and Oakleigh a bit closer to home.
“We do it on a budget and I think we do it well,” Sandra said.
Assistance from Charlee’s family helps her enter the races, as well support from the Melbourne Kart Centre team.
But it’s not just her family supporting her racing journey, with Charlee’s Alkira Secondary College friends and teachers cheering her on along the way.
Charlee now plans to get into the finals of the Australian Kart Championship and to beat her personal best.
She dreams to compete in V8 Supercars one day.
Those interested in sponsoring Charlee can contact the Zammit family at sangbrash@gmail.com
