Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

St Georges' College schoolboy Collin Daley Jr took the chequered flag on Sunday at a critical go-kart race meet in Colorado, United States, to book his ticket to the Grand Finals of the Rotax World Championship, which is scheduled for November 28 in Portugal.

Daley, a fifth-former preparing for CSEC next year, joins Thomas Issa as the second Jamaican who will compete at the World Championships.

Both are following in the path of Timothy Stewart, who became the first Jamaican to qualify for the World Championships in 2006.

"Congratulations to Daley. This goes to show the quality drivers a small country like Jamaica has been producing," boasted Neil Williams, president of the Jamaica Karting Association (JKA).

While young Daley was going through his paces, his father Collin Daley Sr was busy at home tuning in to the Internet, where the event was being streamed live.

"I watched the race, man. I was on top of the world when he crossed the finishing line first. He has been trying for so many years. As Jamaicans, I think we should all unite and work together now," said Daley Sr, who was awaiting the return of the team to start celebrating.

Eight-year career

The 15-year-old Daley began his career about eight years ago under the watchful eyes of local motorsport legend, Peter Moodie.

At that time, the inexperienced Daley Jr had expressed an interest in driving one of the go-karts, but was too young.

Still determined, Daley returned the following February on his birthday and this time got the opportunity to drive one of the karts. He has not looked back since then.

Prior to taking the chequered flag on Sunday, Daley, who has never driven in the DD2 Class before, practised for half the day last Monday and Tuesday.

Reports are that he led in practice on Friday and won two out of three heats on Saturday, before taking the pre-finals and final on Sunday.