Name – Hayden Sell
Age – 13
Location – Brisbane, Australia

What do you race? Category: go-karts in ka4 junior (12 – 16 years)
kart: energy space 101 kart, iame ka100 2 stroke race engine

How long have you been racing? I started go-karting in may 2015 just after I turned 8 and started racing in January 2016

What do you enjoy most about racing? I love just being at the track being with my family around people that have the same interests as me and how competitive the racing is which makes it challenging.

Who is your inspiration and why did you start racing? My inspiration would be Craig Lowndes because he is a great sport and driver. From when I could talk I said I wanted to race v8 supercars.

What would you want people to know about you? I kart to have fun- but it’s more fun when you win! I am really small for my age so I always have to have lots of lead on my kart- it makes it really heavy and really tricky to set it up right.

Who supports your racing? My family always support me and so do my amazing sponsors.

Would you like to tell us about your autism diagnosis and how you think it has helped you with your racing? I was diagnosed with autism when I was 4.
I don’t eat much food- I never really get hungry and so it’s hard to keep my energy up or find the right types of foods to keep me strong.
I find it hard to stay calm- I get super excited about being at the track and it is hard to concentrate on anything else.
I find sensory things tricky so it can be hard to get comfortable if something doesn’t feel right.
I have an advantage I think because I have really sensitive hearing. It means I have to wear my earplugs all the time but I can also hear all of the changes in my engine before anyone else can

Who are your sponsors? Racing ears – custom ear protection, scp surface correction and protection, motiv8 training, ruiz plumbing solutions, adcc dental, i fit4u mobile 4×4 and electrical accessory installs, plus fitness underwood, big life journal, heavy metal restorations australia, kaos karting, 9ine5ive tuning, intimidator race engines.

Achievements:

2016
Presidents award at Warwick kart club for a great attitude on and off the track
2017
Cadet 9 club champion at Warwick kart club
Recipient of the gold Ron Duffield memorial shield for best and fairest driver
5th place in the cadet 9 category of the Southern QLD series
2018
4th place in the cadet 12 championship at Warwick Kart Club
5th place in the cadet 12 QLD c & d grade state titles
President’s award at Warwick kart club for a great attitude on and off the track
2019
2nd runner up in the cadet 12 championship at Warwick kart club
Competed in my first Australian karting championship event and qualified 8th out of the best 71 in my category in Australia
Competed in my first race of stars event

Please check out Hayden’s racing page! https://www.facebook.com/haydenjordanracing/ #raisingawarenessonelapatatime