Kiwi takes centre stage at FIA Prize Giving Gala

Kiwi World Champion Takes Centre Stage
at FIA Prize Giving Gala

World Karting Champion Wade Cunningham took centre stage at the CIK-FIA's annual Prize Giving Gala ceremony at Monaco in December - driving his title-winning CRG-Maxter kart round the streets of the principality and (on the night of the Gala) onto the stage of the auditorium!

The proud young Kiwi was able to do so courtesy of the organisers of the event, who obtained permission for him to drive his Kart round the streets one evening for a special audio-visual presentation.

That presentation provided the backdrop for Cunningham to drive his World Championship-winning CRG-Maxter ONTO THE STAGE to receive his award!

Cunningham, 19, who humbled the cream of Europe's aspiring young Formula 1 drivers to win the 2003 World Championship title at the Sarno circuit in Italy's south, has already tested a Formula Ford 2000 single-seater racing car in the United States and is intent on following in the footsteps of Karters like Michael Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button who all graduated to Formula 1.

At the prize giving gala the young New Zealander was surrounded by the world's best drivers. Also receiving their World Champion awards at the ceremony were World Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher and World Rally Champion Peter Solberg.

Cunningham will be in Auckland to enjoy Christmas with his family and will then head to the United States early in the New Year to pursue a drive in the 2004 Cooper Tires US Formula Ford 2000 championship.

Click here to read more about Wades world championship win.

Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of KartSport New Zealand. Contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail on ross@editorial.co.nz