The first “06880” story on Vivek Kanthan ran nearly 5 years ago.
The Westporter had just become a New York state karting champion. Impressively, he had taken up the sport only a couple of years earlier.
Plus, he was just 10 years old.
Vivek Kanthan, with some of his trophies in 2020.
The story (click here) described Vivek’s route to the top: his preparation, patience, and will to win.
It also noted his ultimate goal: to be a Formula 1 racer.
For 5 years, Vivek has raced to the top. The courses grew more challenging. He got faster. His trophies piled up — including a US national title and Supernationals vice-championship, both in his first 2 years of racing.
He added a World Superfinal and Italian Trofeo in 2022. In his rookie junior season in 2023, he reached the FIA European podium. He is now a junior kart racing world champion.
This year — even before getting his driver’s license — 15-year-old Vivek Kanthan is on track to become a Formular 1 race car driver.
Vivek Kanthan, on the track.
Many Americans know the sport through “Drive to Survive,” the Netflix series.
They also know that the last American to win a Formula 1 championship was in 1978 — when Jimmy Carter was president.
Vivek’s new goal is to break that drought.
Vivek — who has spent the past couple of years flying dozens of times between the US and Europe — has just signed with a top Spanish team. He will make his single-seater debut in March with Campos Racing, in Spanish Formula 4.
Vivek Kanthan, today.
We’re stuck in Westport. But we can follow his journey through Instagram (@vivekkanthan) or his website.
