Ethan racing ahead in world of karting

Mullingar boy Ethan Carroll is beginning to make a big name for himself in the world of go-karting – even though he took up the sport less than a year ago and even though he is just seven years old.

“He came second last weekend in Mondello,” says Ethan’s proud mum, Nicky, who, with husband Stephen, is thrilled at Ethan’s progress in the sport.
Their pride is all the more understandable when Nicky explains that Ethan is actually on the autistic spectrum and has ADHD, but that go-karting has dramatically turned his life around. His determination last month won the youngster an Autism Ireland hero award.
“What we’ve found is he doesn’t need as many therapies as he was receiving; he’s socialising more; he’s happy – he’s not just sitting there on his iPad.”
Ethan is the youngest of the four children in the Carroll family: he and his ten year old sister, Robyn, who is also on the spectrum attend St Tola’s in Delvin; his brother Patrick is in his Leaving Cert year in Killucan and his sister Shauna is also in Leaving Cert, but she is at the school she always attended in Dublin before the family moved to Mullingar two years ago.
The family moved to Mullingar around two years ago, and while Nicky admits she sometimes misses being around her friends, the payback is that the children love living outside Dublin.
“I know it’s a bit of a drive out to St Tola’s, but it’s a great school; they’re totally on top of things, and they’re really conscious of inclusion: we really feel like we won the lotto with that school,” says Nicky.
It was clear from early on that Ethan had an interest in cars – but not how great that interest would prove to be, nor that it would be matched by talent.
“He’s always been obsessed by wheels – anything on wheels: cars, motorbikes, tractors,” says Nicky.
As a carer, and thus entitled to an annual Carer’s Support Grant, Nicky resolved last year to use her grant to buy a go-kart for Ethan.
“It’s an expensive sport,” she says, pointing out that as well as the kart (starting prices are from €700 upwards), his racing means he needed a helmet (approximately €500), and there are then the maintenance costs, race entry fees and travel expenses.
“He races with three different championships – Motorsport Ireland; the Leinster Championship and the Tullyallen Kart Club,” says Nicky.
This isn’t “pretend” racing: the kart Ethan uses has a 50cc engine, and hits speeds of 40mph.
Remarkably – although still only racing at what’s termed bambino class – he has his own website, Ethan Carroll Racing, and he even has succeeded in obtaining some sponsorship.
If anyone is prepared to consider becoming a sponsor, they can enquire through the Ethan Carroll Racing Facebook page, says Ncky.
She is warm in her praise for the support the family has received in getting Ethan racing from the Tullyallen Kart Club, and says others interested in the sport would find Tullyallen Kart Club an excellent starting point.