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Christian Costoya, the kid who is hot on Verstappen's heels

On the world motorsport map, Spain is once again making its mark. And we're not just talking about circuits like MadRing or Montmeló, but also about big names who are making their mark. One of them is a Galician kid born in 2010 who is breaking the mould from the bottom of the motor racing pyramid: karts. His name is Christian Costoya and, at just 14 years old, he is already making a name for himself in the corridors of the world's most powerful teams.

His success is no coincidence or a stroke of precocious talent. It is consistency, speed and a hunger for victory. In a sport where every tenth of a second counts, Costoya has already made it clear that he is here for much more than just competing. He is here to win. He has been proving this with a crazy season in international karting, where he dominates with authority in several European competitions.

In Viterbo, one of the sacred temples of world karting, he swept the board in his last outing and claimed his sixth victory in the European OK category. But he didn't stop there. Second in the Super Master Series, leader of the Euro Series and also a protagonist in the Champions of the Future. The boy is relentless. And that doesn't go unnoticed in a world where talent scouts have had their eyes on the circuits since the drivers were in nappies.

The statistics are staggering. More than five victories this season, more pole positions than drivers who are already flirting with Formula E or even F2. Names like Taylor Barnard and Arvid Lindblad did not get this far in their formative years. Only Antonelli, Mercedes' current rising star, had similar records in 2021. In other words, Christian is competing — and winning — in the same league as those who are currently candidates to race in F1.

Calm but ambitious, he is clear about his goals. ‘I like Leclerc and Verstappen, when I see them they inspire me a lot,’ he confesses. It is no coincidence that he says this. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are two textbook examples of how to go from karting to F1 in record time. In fact, he shares an agency with the Ferrari driver and closely follows the footsteps of the Dutchman, who was European karting champion in 2013 before making the leap with Red Bull.

Costoya's goal is no small feat: he wants to end the year with the World Karting Championship under his belt, a trophy that very few have ever won. It would be the perfect end to a dream season before making the leap to single-seaters. Formula 4 is on the horizon, possibly as early as 2026. From there, the road is long, yes, but if the Galician has proven anything, it is that the future does not scare him.

Meanwhile, Spanish motor racing is smiling. With Alonso holding his own, Sainz consolidating his position and promising talents such as Pepe Martí pushing forward from F2, the arrival of such a precocious talent as Costoya is a ray of hope for keeping Spain at the top of the motor racing world. Because, let's be clear, having such a gem at home is not something that happens every day.