Racing star Sera to shine

By Stuart Teather
TWENTY-year-old David Sera may well be the future of Australian motor racing.
The Narre Warren resident recently won his third Rotax National Go Kart Championship, after a stunning performance at the Todd Road circuit in Port Melbourne.
The win was his seventh Australian Go Kart title. Add 31 state titles to the resume, as well as representing Australia at the World Titles, and it is clear why Sera is the top ranked karter in the country.
In 2007, Sera won a berth representing his country at the World Titles after winning his second Rotax National Championship.
But drama ensued at the race, held in Dubai, and he said a technical infringement potentially cost him victory.
“I won two of the three heat races, which should’ve placed me up the top for the pre-final but due to a technical infringement with my motor I was disqualified for the final heat race, which meant I started 21st in the pre-final,” Sera said.
“I made my way up to the top 10, I had a bit of a crash with one of the competitors and I finished the race in 15th, and then from 15th I finished eighth in the final,” he said.
While he was disappointed with the result, Sera has another crack at the title this November, when he heads off to Italy to compete in the same race. Sera said he wanted to make an impact on the European racing scene.
“It’s a lot more professional overseas… They’re throwing big dollars at races, Karts, tyres, engines, there’s a lot more of everything compared to Australia.”
Many of the world’s best motor racers began their careers in Go Karts, and Sera is aiming to join them in the elite classes.
“I’d like to get through to Europe, that’s where all the big teams are and a lot of people take notice, and that’s where all the F1 guys have come from.
“I’d like to do some open-wheel racing, it’d definitely be a bigger thrill than in the Karts.”
Parents of aspiring motor racers are the first to admit it is not a cheap sport to be involved in, but Sera said his dad had only himself to blame.
“When I was about six years old, dad bought me a Go Kart — I pretty much had no choice, it was either ballet or Go Karting — he just forced me into it,” he joked.