The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

With The Bahamas on his back and the final round of the Italian Championship ahead of him, young Bahamian karting driver Lenox Lockhart is ready to close out the season with another test against some of Europe’s fastest young racers.

Lockhart,10, heads into Round 5 of the ACI Italian Championship at Leopard Circuit Viterbo in Viterbo, Italy, from September 24 to 28, looking to finish the championship on a strong note and continue developing his skills against a highly competitive international field.

“I’m feeling good and ready,” Lockhart said. “It’s the last round of the championship, so I want to have a strong weekend, stay focused and get the best result I can.”

The weekend represents another opportunity for Lockhart to measure his progress after four rounds of competition. He said racing at this level has reinforced how important the smallest details can be once drivers are competing against one another at such a high pace.

“I’ve learned that at this level every little thing matters,” he said. “Everyone is really fast, so you have to be consistent, make as few mistakes as possible and take your opportunities when they come.”

Lockhart expects qualifying to be particularly important at Viterbo, where the track combines different types of corners with long straights. Putting together a clean lap and making smart decisions during the races will be key to his weekend.

He has also been concentrating on improving his braking, corner exits and overall consistency.

“I’m working hardest on being more consistent and making fewer small mistakes,” Lockhart said. “I’m also improving my braking and my exits from the corners because at this level every little bit makes a difference.”

The competition has provided Lockhart with an opportunity to race against some of the leading young drivers in Europe, a challenge he believes is accelerating his development.

“A lot of the drivers I’m racing against are the best young drivers in the world,” he said. “You can’t make many mistakes because everybody is fast. Racing against them pushes me to improve, learn faster and become a better driver every weekend.”

While his focus remains on performance, Lockhart is also preparing to carry a bigger piece of The Bahamas with him onto the track.

He has launched a Bahamian Racing Helmet Design Competition, inviting artists and creators to submit designs for his new helmet. The winning design will be featured on his helmet for the remainder of the 2026 season and throughout 2027.

Lockhart said the project is about connecting his international racing career with Bahamian creativity.

“I wanted my helmet to be another way of carrying The Bahamas with me when I race,” he said. “Having a Bahamian artist create the design makes it even more special.”

He wants the designs to reflect the country through its colors, flag, ocean and culture, while giving artists the freedom to interpret what The Bahamas means to them.

“It would be really special,” Lockhart said of racing internationally with a Bahamian-designed helmet. “Everywhere I race, people would be seeing something created by a Bahamian artist and bring more attention to our country.”

For Lockhart, representing The Bahamas remains central to his journey.

“I’m very proud to be Bahamian,” he said. “Every time I go on track, The Bahamas is with me. I’m proud to represent my country and help show the world what The Bahamas can do.”

The young racer’s ambitions extend well beyond the current championship. He wants to continue progressing through motorsport, win races and championships and ultimately reach the highest level of the sport.

“My goal is to reach the highest level of the sport and race in Formula 1,” Lockhart said.