In Slovenia in recent years, two youngsters in particular have ruled the karting scene: 20-year-old Urban Stare from Ljubljana and 15-year-old Erik Sajovic from Vrhnika. This year both racers were awarded the ‘crystal helmet’ by AMZS (Automobile Association of Slovenia) for winning five national championship titles.

Urban Stare this year won his fifth title in the most prestigious karting class, KZ2 (125 cc, 6 gears). Interestingly, Urban has already been national champion in four different categories and has posted 34 victories, 25 second places and 13 third places. His international appearances in the last few years have also been at the top level, and he was runner-up in one Formula Rotax European Championship (Eurochallenge) race. He was the first Slovenian driver and started from the front of the grid. Urban’s driving, particularly in wet conditions, has not escaped the notice of the numerous scouts that watch karting in search of talent. Karting has produced a number of giants of Formula One, including Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Fisichella, Liuzzi, Kubica, Rosberg and Buehmi. As a youngster, Urban raced against Sebastian Vettel, coming in just 0.011 seconds behind him at the Ampfing racetrack in Germany in 2004.

Last season he was invited to take a test drive with Sauber, but he was unable to take part because of technical difficulties. Next season Urban will once again race at the top level, at the KZ2 European Championships in Wackersdorf, Germany and at the World Cup in Genk, Belgium. In addition to racing, Urban studies at the faculty of mechanical engineering in Ljubljana. His big ambition, in addition to becoming a Formula One driver, is to pilot military aircraft and commercial jets.

The other young driver, Erik Sajovic, is barely 15 years old and is, after Urban, Slovenian motor racing’s hottest prospect. He has notched up 21 victories, 7 second places and 4 third places so far in the national championships. He has not yet raced internationally, but next season, like Urban Stare before him, he will pit himself against the best kart drivers in the world in the KF2 category.

Both young drivers give Slovenia hope that it will, in a few years’ time, have drivers in the most prestigious competition – Formula One. Well-heeled sponsors are, of course, required if one wishes to join the elite, since any new driver has to bring at least EUR 10 million a year to his F1 team. Hungary provides the only example of a Formula 1 driver being funded by the state via the Ministry of Sport, when it supported Zsolt Baumgartner in 2003 and 2004. He raced 20 times and scored a single point, at the US Grand Prix.