UAE’s Malayali karting wonderkid aspires to race in F1

"I try to race quickly so that I can do my homework."

That's not an unusual thing for a 13-year-old to say. After all, kids are made to rush with their pastimes to be ready for school the next day. But Nathan Joseph Kappen doesn't race a bicycle like his peers; he hits up to 120 km/hr on a stretch in his go-kart, and it is more than just a hobby to the Malayali boy.

The resident of Dubai is a rising star in kart racing. In the three years since he discovered his passion in the fast lane, Nathan or Nat has emerged as the best in class in the Middle East. Nat won the Rotax Max Challenge in the UAE and followed it up with the Middle East and Africa Championship. He is set to represent the UAE at the Grand Finals in Bahrain this November.

Like most karting enthusiasts, Nat aims to reach the top and be a Formula 1 driver. "I aspire to be an F1 driver or compete in world endurance races like Le Mans, one of those two, especially F1," Nat told Onmanorama.

Nat has much to do to fulfil his dreams. First, he must attain the minimum legal age of 15 to try a car on the race track as stipulated by FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile). He races for Mumbai Falcons in the Middle East and with DPK Racing Factory Team in Europe. "He is a factory driver for DPK, which Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso owns," said Thommen Kappen, Nat's father.

Late starter
Thommen says there is no racing background in the family. The native of Thodupuzha is a businessman, and his wife, Thanu, from Kanjirappally, works as a Chartered Accountant. The couple has been living in Dubai for 17 years. They also have a daughter, 10-year-old Kiara.

"He started quite late, at 10," Thommen said about his son. "Normally, kids start karting much younger. We took him to a rental karting place and he instantly found a spark. One of the teams there said, 'Why don't you put him on training?', so that's how it started."

Nat's first exposure was in the mini category (age 10-12) in the Emirates. In his first season, he competed in 9 races, finishing overall 7th. Midway into the second season, Nat had already grown taller than most mini racers and was moved into the junior category. "He is 182 cm, so in a sense, height is a disadvantage in his category because the wind resistance will be high," Thommen said.

Nat got a real hang of karting in his third season, becoming quicker with each race. Thommen says that Nat won a race in Bengaluru by a 10-second margin and another in the Emirates by an 8-second margin, highlighting the ease with which the boy has excelled in his class.

"Next season, which begins in September, I'll be competing in the senior category for the first time. I think I'm prepared," Nat said. His parents and sister are his biggest fans, but Nat says relatives back in Kerala are aware of his journey. "(Being a Malayali) is a big part of me. Before every race, I get calls from my family members in Kerala. It is special," said the boy behind the wheel.