Karting as a nursery for F1 greatness.

Many have spoken of how karting is the testing/ breeding ground for the inchoate dreams of motorsports greatness. However, less have given anything more than throwing names around.
So, just how did one of the current racing names make it into the more serious and established arena of F1 racing? Here is the story of Michael Schumacher; a German name that needs no introduction.

Michael was born on the 3rd of January, 1969, to Rolf Schumacher and Elisabeth in a town called Hurth Hermulheim. At four years old, Michael took his first steps towards motorsports when his father attached a small motorcycle engine to his pedal kart. His first accident resulted soon after when he crashed it into a lamp post at Kerpen.

Venturing on to the local karting track at Kerpen- Horrem, he joined the club and was then the youngest member there.

His father sensed that his son was to have a future in motor racing and supported his son's interest. He built for his son a proper kart from discarded parts and at the tender age of 6, Michael won his first club championship.

Though the cheapest form of motor racing, pursuing even go karting is by no means cheap, and Rolf together with his wife had to take on second jobs; Rolf at t the karting circuit renting and repairing karts and Elisabeth aat the track's canteen stand.

When even this effort was insufficient to fund his passion and to provide spare parts, several local businessmen stepped in to provide a new engine which cost 800DM.

Karting regulations in Germany stpulate the minimum driving age to be 14 years. Michael, below this age, got around this by obtaining a license in Luxumbourd in 1981, when he was 12.

In 1983, he received his German license and the next year, emerged champion at the German Junior Kart Championships. From 1984 on, Schumacher won several German and European kart championships. Then in 1985, he joined Eurokart dealer Adolf Neubert and by 1987 he was the German and European kart champion. Then, in 1988, Michael made his first step into single-seat car racing by racing in the German Formula Ford and Formula Konig series, winning the latter. From there, he proceeded to garner successive wins and the fame he currently enjoys.