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1st participation in the Speedland/Esquadrão do Kart Amateur Kart Championship

TRACK DEBUT! THE DAY GRAFE RACING TASTED THE SENSATION OF REAL COMPETITION (AND PAIN) 💥

Hey there, speed enthusiasts!

GRAFE Racing was born to explore the world of karting, and there's no purer exploration than crossing the starting grid in your first official competition! This post marks an unforgettable moment: the debut of driver Rafael Silva in the Amateur Kart Squad Championship at Speedland – specifically in the FINAL STAGE of the 1st Semester of 2025, in the 70 Kg Novice category.

I never imagined I'd be there, battling corner by corner with real drivers. The emotion was immense, but what I found on the track was a lesson in humility and the certainty that we chose the right sport.

Our main focus is to follow all stages of the championship, starting in the second half of 2025. I chose to participate in this extra stage of the first half of the year precisely to get to know the track and feel what it's like to be in the competition.

Remember that, in addition to driver Rafa, we have Gustavo Cavaller, who had already entered and raced in the first half of the championship, right from the first stages, and with each race, he learned and grew. In this final stage on June 26th, he didn't end up racing, but he's also already aiming for the second half of the year stage.


The "Amateur" who looked like a professional:

The first shock came even before starting the engine. Observing the paddock and the grid, I realized that the word "amateur" was only used in the registration.

The drivers of the Kart Squad are of a very high level. They were equipped with personalized overalls, full of sponsorships, and surrounded by an impressive structure: team engineers, coaches analyzing telemetry, and even doctors on call for support.

It became clear that, to be competitive at this level, rental karting is taken seriously. This only increased my respect for the sport and my motivation to improve.

 

The Drama of the Unplanned Pit Stop:

The first challenge came right in the qualifying laps. In the heat of the race, I ended up being hit by another kart in the second U-turn, just after entering the indoor track, and the impact was strong.

The worst part? I was without my rib protector.

t was a serious mistake, and the price was paid immediately: I felt intense pain. Fortunately, it wasn't anything serious, but the aching body stayed with me for more than a week, requiring anti-inflammatories and rest.

⚠️ Crucial Lesson from GRAFE Racing: If there's one thing I've learned in practice, it's this: NEVER skimp on safety. The rib protector is a mandatory item, and its absence can jeopardize your entire season. Don't take the risk. Always use it!

 

The opening night numbers:

Despite the scare, I went on to both heats determined to finish the race and collect data for our blog:

1st Heat (Classification)

  • Final Position: P17 out of 17 drivers

  • Fastest Lap: 01:12.727

  • Difference to Leader: 00:08.125

  • Average Speed: 41.23 km/h

  • Note: The focus here was to understand the track under pressure and complete the lap without further incidents.

2nd Heat (Main Race)

  • Final Position: P19 out of 22 drivers

  • Fastest Lap: 01:10.391

  • Difference to the Leader: 1 lap (The leader's pace was insane!)

  • Average Speed: 38.32 km/h

  • Note: I managed to lower my time by more than 2 seconds! This shows that, even though it hurt, the learning curve was steep.

The numbers show that we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but the gap to the elite group gives us the goal: to close those 6 and/or 8 seconds and get into the fight.

 

Watch the Full Thrill:

The races that take place at Speedland are always broadcast live on the FATV channel! If you want to see all the action and follow my drama on the track, as well as the other heats in the competition, check out the video on YouTube:


 

Photos from the premiere:





What remains now?

The debut was full of emotion, pain, and above all, learning. GRAFE Racing now knows the level of competition and is more motivated than ever to seek sponsorships, improvements, and, of course, a top-of-the-line rib protector!

See you soon, until the next acceleration! 🏁

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