Moving to Italy at 9 years old to race full-time has been the biggest adventure of my life. Learning a new language, adapting to a completely different racing culture, and living far from home has taught me a lot both on and off the track. Here are some of the biggest lessons from my first European season.

Before arriving in Italy in January, I tried to prepare as much as possible. I took Italian lessons over Zoom so I could communicate with my team, describe kart setup changes, and of course, order food (my favorite pasta is Carbonara). I also worked on adapting to European driving conditions. Growing up in Miami, I was used to American tracks, weather, and grip levels, so I spent time at Trackhouse Motorplex because its layout and climate are more similar to Europe. I even trained on European tires and wheels so that the transition would be less of a shock.

Racing in Italy is much more intense. Qualifying strategy is completely different—drivers wait until the last few minutes to go out and then fight to get a tow from the kart in front. Race starts are faster, and the sessions are much shorter than in the U.S., which means you have to move forward right away because there is no time to wait. Every race is also closely monitored by video. GoPro footage isn’t used for protests, and the Race Director’s decision is final. The tracks themselves change a lot during a race weekend, so teams are constantly adjusting the setup to match evolving grip levels.

In 2025, I competed in the Mini U10 category. Normally next year I would move up to Mini GR3…but something bigger may be coming. Let’s just say the big kart is calling. Even though I can’t race it competitively in Italy until I turn 11 in April, we’ve already done some test days and are thinking carefully about the best strategy for the 2026 season.