Seven-year-old Erik set for 2020 testing in Spain

Seven-year-old St Seachnall's NS, Dunshaughlin pupil Erik Gilsenan will be heading for the sunshine in Spain next February for winter testing as he continues to establish a reputation as a talented young driver.

At the moment, karting's Bambino class is the category, but next year he will be eligible to step up a grade to Cadet class (eight years old) in March just ahead of the first round of the 2020 series.

Next year will be busy for the Meath boy, a son of James and Jenny Gilsenan. Dad James is from Ratoath and mother Jenny is a native of Latvia while grandfather Noel from Kiltale has had a long association with motorsport. 

Erik began karting in April 2018 and competed at Motorsport Ireland events in Leinster and Munster, but was only eligible to apply for an official licence this year after he celebrated his seventh birthday.

Dad James is a qualified aircraft engineer who owns JG Motorsport in Ratoath, a business specialising in high performance cars.

James has always had a keen interest in all types of motorsport and with his son Erik visited a lot of motor shows including the Goodwood Festival of Speed as well as rallies and races.

Erik's grandfather Noel Gilsenan from Kiltale was also involved in nurturing the family passion for motorsport.

Noel started rallying in the 1970s and was part of the top rally team of driver Austin McHale from 1980 for some 30 years.

During that time  national and international success was achieved and the action included the World Rally Championship until 2008. Noel had been working on smaller club rallies and enjoying spectating also.

The team (Michael Eiffe, Willie Elliott and Brendan Crinion) won many of the club rallies in Ireland and also competed in European rallies successfully.

Erik started kart racing when he was six when he received a bambino go kart for his birthday in March 2018.

After a few months testing he entered his first championship with the Leinster Kart Club in August of that year.

Dad James was aware that a lot of work was required to get to the podium, but steady progress was made.

The first podium was achieved in October last year when six-year-old Erik finished third in a competitive race and a month later he got his first win in a round of the 2018 / 2019 Winter Championship. 

With a lot of hard work and determination Erik improved and he started achieving very good results. 

He won the 2018/2019 Leinster Kart Club Championship on overall points in Athboy.

He was also selected as driver of the day on one of the rounds in April this year and the 2019 Summer Championships (Leinster Kart Club) was secured despite having missed a round in August.

Erik was eligible to apply for his Motorsport Ireland licence in March this year when he was seven and he was then able to compete in that Championship class.

At the final round of Motorsport Ireland's 2019 championship Erik took the chequered flag in all the heats, pre-final and the race final, securing third in the championship in his first year with Motorsport Ireland.

During the season he was the 2019 Munster Kart Club champion, this championship was run within the Motorsport Ireland championship over four rounds. 

There were two rounds at Watergrasshill (Cork) and one each at  Mondello and Whiteriver (Collon).

Erik joined the Cork-based Daly Motor Sport team in July and benefited from the tutelage of Kieran Daly (team manager and driver coach). That link has improved Erik’s driving skills as DMS has a long and successful history in karting. 

Erik is currently testing his new Cadet kart and hoping to enter MI championship for 2020 for which he will be eligible once he is eight, a deadline he will meet next March only weeks before the start of the season. 

He will be running two classes (Bambino and Cadet).

His season will kick-off in in style with that trip to Valencia in February to compete with the best UK drivers.

All photos Graham Joyce Photography

APPRECIATION FOR SUPPORT
The Gilsenan family would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported Erik throughout the year and that includes Eiffe Development, Park Motor Centre (Paul Robinson and Robert Robinson), Crew Cut Barber Shop, Dunshaughlin; Des and Linda Kavanagh, Graham Joyce Photography.