Nenger Seals FIA Motorsport Games Qualifying Slot

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

John Paul Nenger yesterday emerged the winner of the Senior Karting Championship at the 2021 Festival of Motorsport in Nigeria held at the Central Park, Abuja

By virtue of the triumph at the two- day championship which ends today, Nenger will represent the country in the Karting senior category at the FIA Motorsport Games in Marseille, France in October.

The President of the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), which organised the competition, Ishaku Bamaiyi, said the 14-year-old student of Capital Science Academy, Kuje, Abuja will be trained to compete against other contenders at the World FIA Motorsport Games.

“Since he is the winner, we will train him on pro kart, which is a higher level of the rental carts, which you know can change the gear and go over 100 km per hour and move faster than others,” Bamaiyi said.

Speaking to journalists after his accomplishment, Nenger said the victory made him feel happy, excited and having multiple feelings.

He said the conditions at the national championship perfectly suited him as the race track was nice, smooth and without obstruction.

“I will be well prepared for the FIA Motorsport Games. I intend to set up small from here, hopefully I will get a chance by the time I get to France and from there on I will find my rhythm”.

The Secretary General for Sports, ATCN, Terlumun Ikya, said the motorsport festival featured collective disciplines used to select the country’s representatives in various categories.

The six categories are Karting Sprint Junior, Karting Sprint Senior, Karting Endurance Team, Karting Slalom, Auto Slalom and Digital Games.

He said ATCN is trying to create a Racing Nigeria Motorsport team that will be a permanent racing club in the country.

Also the club president, Bamaiyi enumerated the benefits that the country’s participation in international events will bring.

He said the country will gain from the exposure in ways beyond imagination, including making the drivers rise to become Formula 1, Formula E and World Rally Championship drivers as well participate in so many other events.

“As we speak, we have a Nigerian, who would drive in the junior category. He is right now participating in the FIA Captain Trophy Academy 2021. His name is Phillip Gana. From there if he is able to perform in the next five, six years, we are talking of Formula 1.

“He has done Germany, he is practicing now to do Italy, then the last place will be Sweden in September,” Bamaiyi said.