Teen go-kart driver from Ottawa heads to Bahrain to chase world championship dream

An Ottawa teenage go-kart star is heading to Bahrain to race against some of the best young drivers in the world.

Olivier Mrak doesn’t just race go-karts, he lives for them.

“I just love the adrenaline. I love racing,” Mrak said.

The 15-year-old has been go-kart racing since he was nine. Now, he’s headed to Bahrain for the second time to race against some of the best young drivers in the world.

“Racing against the best racers in the world and representing my country. It feels great,” he said.

The love for racing was passed down by his father, who says he had to drag him to the track at a young age.

“At first, he didn’t like it, but then he began to love it,” said his father Andreas Mrak.

His dad says it’s not just any race, it’s a worldwide event.

“Very proud and it’s a world event and it’s the best drivers from around the world. That’s what makes it so special for me, that he’s actually part of this,” Andreas Mrak said.

“This is his first year in seniors, and he won the ticket, which is rarely seen,” said Olivier’s mother Chantal Mrak.

For his mother, races are as exciting as they are stressful, with speeds that can reach up to 130 km/h.

“It’s very stressful. Sometimes I can’t watch. I just have to leave the stands and I pace back and forth. Yeah, it’s fun, it’s exhilarating. But it’s very stressful. For a mom, it’s very stressful,” she said.

For Olivier, he says racing go-karts is just the beginning.

“My main dream is to get to Formula One but any car would be nice to race for a career,” he said.

Olivier hits the track in Bahrain the first week of December.

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