Nikolas Bertans: 'For the first time, I will have the opportunity to represent my country together with my sister'
From October 31 to November 3, 2019, the "Motorsport Games" organized by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) will take place in Rome and nearby Vallelunga, which will combine several motorsport disciplines.
LAF (Latvian Automobile Federation) has entered athletes in four out of six possible motorsport disciplines for these games. For karting slalom discipline - Emilija and Nikolass Bertāni.
Why is motorsport close to you?
E.B: "It's only natural that I'm not a stranger to motorsport. Ever since I can remember, there was a lot of talk at home about cars and motorsport. My dad and brother were especially fond of motorsports, they very often watched races or cars together. Nikolass only played with cars and I know them very well since early childhood. I became interested in motorsport much later, when Nikolass and I started attending a karting school."
N.B: "Autosport is close to me because I have been interested in cars since childhood, the fact that my father has participated and also attended car competitions and always took me with him certainly plays a big role."
What does competing outside of Latvia mean to you?
E.B: "This is the first time I will represent my country outside its borders, so I'm a little scared, because I haven't sat behind the wheel of a kart for a very long time, and I'm also afraid of not knowing about the level of preparation of my competitors. I want to start this competition with honor."
N.B: "It is a great honor for me to compete in competitions outside of Latvia, but at the same time also a great responsibility, because my usual motorsport discipline is drifting, but this time I will sit back behind the wheel of a kart."
Will it be something new to compete with your brother/sister? Have you already happened to be on the track together?
E.B: "I have met my brother on the track several times, but it was several years ago, so I am really happy that I will have the opportunity to ride with him again."
N.B: "It's nothing new to be with my sister on the track, as we have often fought for first and second place in karting school competitions, but for the first time we will have the opportunity to cross the country directly with my sister."
How did the FIA Motorsport Games prepare?
E.B: "We started preparing for the competition relatively late, but several training sessions have been planned before departure, the purpose of which is to refresh driving skills."
N.B: "The drift competition season has just ended, so it was not possible to seriously prepare for the FIA Motosport Games". But at the moment we are training and together with my sister we have planned to hold several more karting training sessions."
Have you set a goal for your performance in this competition?
E.B: "It's difficult to set a goal, because this competition format is completely new to me, but in any case I will try to show myself on the track as well as I can."
N.B: "As in all other competitions, I will do my best to achieve the best result in this one."
What are your hobbies, activities outside of motorsport?
E.B: "At the moment, my priority is school and studies, so I don't have much time for hobbies, but I am fascinated by art and everything related to it."
N.B: "Autosport is my hobby and I devote almost all my free time to it. Apart from motorsport, I really like swimming."
The karting slalom competition will take place alongside five other event disciplines – GT, Formula 4, Touring Car, drifting and digital motorsports.
Girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 are allowed to participate in this discipline, they do not need an athlete's license or previous experience.
The competition will take place in a relay format - with mixed (girl/boy) pairs of drivers. Two identical slalom courses will be created. Each driver will take part in all sessions, completing three laps of the track. The first run will be a test run, while the second and third laps will be timed
The competition will begin on Friday with practice runs, followed by the qualifying session on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.
The full article is available here.