Jake Races to the Top of the class

HAILEYBURY STUDENT, JAKE SANTALUCIA, LIKES TO LIVE LIFE IN THE FAST LANE – OF THE GO-KARTING TRACK THAT IS.

The talented go-karting champion has already won a swag of races and awards, and now has national competitions in his sights.

The dedicated 14-year-old juggles his flourishing racing career and spending hours on the track every week with his Year 9 studies. A student at Haileybury’s Berwick campus, Jake is a Maths, Science and Humanities enthusiast.

In 2021, he placed equal first in Victoria in the Australian Geography Competition – an initiative of the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association and the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. His top position in the state placed Jake in the top one per cent of geography students in the country and highlights his commitment to go-karting and his studies.

Jake began racing and got his Karting Australia licence when he was 10-years old. He took part in his first race soon after that and competed in the Victorian Junior Top Gun Championship. The following year, Jake won the Championship.

JAKE RACES TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS

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“My interest in driving vehicles fast began at our acreage property at Garfield. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to ride motorbikes, quad bikes and side-by-side all-terrain vehicles at a young age,” says Jake.

He has amassed a number of impressive wins including the 2021 (KA3 Junior

Class) and 2020 (KA4 Class) in the Victorian Junior Top Gun Championships and was the 2019 Victorian State Cup winner (KA4 Class).

Late last year Jake transitioned to racing seniors and won the February ‘Shake Down’ in the KA3 Senior Class at the Go Kart Club of Victoria.

“This year my goal is to obtain a podium position in each of the Victorian, NSW and SA State Championships and the Australian National Championship in the KA3 Senior Class,” he says.

“But my ultimate aim is to become a V8 Supercar driver.” Haileybury has supported Jake’s go-karting aspirations since he joined the school in Grade 5.

This year Jake plans to race in about 25-weekend events and on weekends when he isn’t competing, he is practising and trialling engines, tyre pressures, gear variations and seat positions under different track and weather conditions.

“The sport requires drivers to be in good physical and mental condition, so I run for about 20 minutes most mornings before school and I skip, box and go for bike rides most nights after school,” says Jake.

“I go to many country and interstate events and my teachers are aware of my racing schedule and help me manage my school workload so I don’t miss anything important. My teachers and friends at Haileybury encourage my passion for the sport and are always keen to hear my racing stories.”

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