Yevan wins silver at FIA Senior Open Karting in France
Yevan David of Sri Lanka won the silver medal at FIA World Motorsports Championship held in France earlier this week. This is Yevan’s first year in the Senior Open Karting category. The event attracted karters from all nations in the world and is considered the Olympics of Karting.
It is the first time ever that a Sri Lankan has won a medal at this level. It is also the first time that a Sri Lankan ended up on the World Motorsports podium finishes. The winner was 19-year-old Ellie Goldstein of Belgium.
Earlier Yevan, now 15, competed at the third Round of the WSK Super Masters Series held at the world famous Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno, Italy and finished 15th overall from 80 of the best junior drivers in the world. To achieve this feat in only his fourth race in Europe is unprecedented. He has also consistently beaten drivers from the prestigious Mercedes and Sauber F1 Academies.
Europe is the pinnacle for Karting globally and is widely recognised as the foundation towards a career in Formula 1. The WSK Championships and the CIK European Championships annually showcase the best drivers the world has to offer. Mclaren, Redbull, Mercedes AMG, Ferrari and Sauber have all recruited drivers from these series and with this week’s win Yevan is making his presence felt.
Yevan, at the tender age of 13, moved to Europe to pursue his dream of one day being the first Sri Lankan World Champion in Formula 1. He is living away from his parents and siblings and focusing full time on racing and remote studies. He drove for the championship winning Forza Racing Team in the OK Junior category. Forza have won the European and World Championship in 2017 and have Williams F1 driver George Russel as part of their alumni.
Yevan remains in Europe competing in the European and World Championships, and his goal is to move into Formula 4 by next year. The ability is unquestionable, the funding will be the barrier to this sportsman putting the Sri Lankan flag on the highest pinnacle of motor racing.