If you’re reading this, you most probably would have read the news about him moving to Europe for a four-month training stint.

12-year-old Singaporean kart racer Daim Hishammudin travelled to Italy for his first taste of European racing at the end of August.

I was there on the trip with him and I witnessed the European racing culture for myself.

It is a tremendous difference from the motorsports scene we have here in Asia, and the competition standards there are amazingly high.

When I wasn’t rubbing shoulders with two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen, I was checking on Daim and his learning..

SingaporeSports.sg: What did you go to Italy for in August?

Daim: I spent two weeks in Italy for testing at Ala Karting Circuit and also to participate in a World Series Karting (WSK) Master Series race at Siena International Kart Circuit.

S: What made you decide to go racing in Europe?

D: As part of my development plan with the team [Axle BHPetrol Racing], a training stint in Europe along with participation in a race there was included.

S: Why is it recommended to go to Europe and race?

D: Motorsports in Europe is a lot more established than Asia with higher competition standards and tougher racing conditions. Hence, it is recommended that any driver goes to Europe at one point in his racing career.

S: How was your first European race experience?

D: It was a great learning experience for me. Although I didn’t qualify for the final, this trip really opened my eyes and gave me valuable exposure. I even got to race alongside Hugo Hakkinen, son of former Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen!

S: What are some of the key learning points you picked up?

D: The tracks in Europe are very different compared to the ones I’ve raced on in Asia. Due to the large number of drivers as well as the higher level of competition, more rubber is laid on the track, causing it to have more grip. Such track conditions are unlike the low grip levels that I usually experience in Asia. There were 70 drivers in the 60 Mini category that I took part in, whereas in Asia I face an average of 20 in a race. Just to name a few, some of the drivers were from Russia, Romania, Great Britain, Turkey, Switzerland and Canada.

S: Was this very beneficial to your development? How and why?

D: Definitely. The level of competition here is so high that there is little room for error. I noticed that all the drivers make few mistakes as one mistake can easily cost you to lose up to 10 places. The drivers are very close to each other and are mostly within less than a second of each other. As a result, I’ve learnt to be more aggressive, especially in the starts. Overtaking and defending of positions on the track has to be done a lot more aggressively and I got to attempt tight and fast passing moves that I’ve never had a chance to try in Asia.

S: How do you feel about your upcoming four-month European stint?

D: I am super excited and happy about it. I’m already looking forward to it! I love racing in Europe and it is a huge step forward in my racing. I’m lucky to have such supportive and understanding parents, family and school teachers. I will miss my father and my sisters a lot too!