At just 13 years old, Roberto Durán already reaches more than 100 kilometers per hour on four wheels. Many parents would be scared by the danger of the extracurricular activity that their child likes to practice, but, in Roberto's case, the hobby and the awards have come hand in hand. Perhaps that is why the nerves that the family suffers and shares in each competition compensate with the gift of the achievements made by the teenager. "Watching him compete is as bad as when Alonso is playing the world championship", says his father, Miguel Durán, who shares Roberto's hobby.
Being the official driver of Marinelli, the conejero Roberto Durán has achieved in just one year, since his passion for karting was born, winning as a cadet the Island Championship, in addition to winning the trophy of the Interinsular Karting Championship Lanzarote-Fuerteventura 2006. With a reserved attitude, Roberto, hidden behind his helmet and his red racing suit, answers questions about his career in competitions. "In the Spanish championship I finished seventh and in Italy I could have done better but we had a problem with the engine and I was left out in a test", laments the young man who was placed in a meritorious eleventh place in the transalpine competition.
His father, Miguel Durán, director of Hyundai in Lanzarote, is another great fan of these racing cars and explains in detail the difficulties they have encountered in the last of their competitions in the Championship of the Industry, held in Parma (Italy). "The floor there is not cleaned of what the wheels release when they wear out", comments the eldest of the Durán, "so in Italy you have to compete with a different chassis than the one we use here in Spain". Changes in the car that they assume as normal but that reach figures not negligible for the acquisition of a new chassis, engine and wheels according to the track where the test takes place.
Running with Fernando Alonso
Due to his good position in the classification of the National Championship, the conejero cadet participated in a race with Fernando Alonso on the weekend of October 27 and 28 in Zaragoza. Roberto Durán and the 14 best classified riders in the Spanish Championship enjoyed a day next to their idol. Days before the race, Roberto acknowledged having many desires to live the experience with one of the greats of Formula 1.
How was your passion for karts born?
On a birthday, we came to celebrate it at the karting track and I liked it. My father likes cars a lot and thanks to him and a friend who started helping us to get into it, I started running. And every day more, from here in Lanzarote to Italy, for the moment, my first international competition.
What does a kart driver have to have to be good?
He has to be fine, that he obeys the mechanic and goes where he wants. It is also essential to be focused on the race and not be playing. Many people start playing and then, in the race, they are unfocused.
What does it mean to you to compete?
I like it a lot, even if it is very difficult. You learn a lot, especially in competitions, with the mistakes I make I see certain problems and how to solve them better in the future.
What expectations do you have for the future? How far would you like to go?
Next year I move to the Junior category, and I hope to continue competing and do better and better, climbing positions. I also want to try to win big championships, because the island and inter-island championships are important but they are still local. If you have not been training. Now I have many races, and therefore I touch the cars more.
Are you scared of the change to the Junior category next year because you would be the youngest of the youngest?
That's nonsense, I don't think it has anything to do with it. What matters is how you go and if you are not afraid then there is no problem. You don't have to be afraid of the competitors, but of the car. If you are safe in the kart you don't have to be afraid of anyone.
Do you want to be a professional driver? Do you see yourself in the future as Fernando Alonso?
No, for the moment I want to continue with my studies, I have already thought about what I want to be and if I can be a Formula 1 driver in the future, then better, but if not I would also like to be an engineer.
Running at speeds that can reach 100 kilometers per hour, any small mistake can be very decisive even dangerous, What has been one of your worst scares on the track?
Once, I made the mistake of touching the engine while it was running and I lost a piece of a finger. But we are very protected so that nothing happens, in that case it was more of a slip of mine.
You are very young and with the competitions you have to travel a lot, do you think you are leading a life like the rest of your classmates? Do you feel like you are missing something with them?
Actually, what I notice the most is not with friends, but in studies. When I go to a competition, I usually miss classes and sometimes I have some problems for not having attended class. In a week I catch up but that's what I notice.
How would you define your personality behind the wheel, what characterizes you when you drive?
I am very clear that being very risky is not everything. I, am going to finish, you don't have to go crazy because then you always end up thrown. The interesting thing is to always score to try to be up but without doing nonsense.
In karting as in Formula 1 the machine is very important when it comes to having a good result, Do you have a fixed team? Are you happy with your team?
Normally when we go to a competition we rent a team, we pay them and they give us mechanic, car and engines. In the last two tests we have gone with the team Faluga Racing Team, who are a good team and with whom I think we can be up. The next competitions I will be with them.
Is it very important to have a good team of mechanics?
Yes, because if the chassis does not go well, you can not go very fast even if you try.
