From Griffith Kart Club To Formula 1

Former local, and proud Griffith Kart Club member, Ian Salvestrin was a commentator at the most recent Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Ian, a Hanwood boy, joined Griffith Kart Club in 1989 as a kart racer. Although his racing ability did not match some of the local lads, Ian’s love of the sport was second to none.

From the humble village of Hanwood, Ian started Australia’s first ever Kart Racing Magazine (Karting OZ), which was an instant success.

Ian now lives in Spain, near the coast, in Alicante, a place that reminds him of home every day.

Surrounded by orange and citrus farms and quite a few snakes - a lot but they are only one-metre, maximum and harmless - not like our deadly evil Griffith browns.

Commentating for the European Kart Circuit and watching the current crop of Formula 1 drivers move through the ranks and speaking three languages, Ian is highly regarded within the highest level of motorsport the world offers.

Having been in Europe since the end of 2014, largely working for a company called WSK Promotion, Ian has commentated for the FIA World and European Karting Championships, WSK World Karting and the European Formula 3 Championships and Italian and European F4.

He has also worked for some other companies and championships, namely the GT Open International Championships (GT3 Racing), Alpine Europa Cup, World Touring Car Cup in Italy, Euro Nascar and Asia Formula 3 in UAE among others.

Having reached the pinnacle of the sport, Ian is living the dream, commentating for the most recent Formula 1 event in Italy.

Speaking English, French and Italian, Ian said he wished he had listened to Mrs Signor’s language class at Griffith High School.

“Little did I know how important that would be,” Ian said.

For Monza, Ian was the event commentator for the Italian F1 Grand Prix for the circuit itself (Autodromo Nazionale Monza), in cooperation with F1 Management who managed it with F1TV.

With all those amazing Race experiences behind him, the promising commentator said he has fond memories of those early years.

“My best memories by far, Griffith Kart Club racing in 1992 on the original 433-metre track,” Ian said.

“Still miss those days.”

Griffith Kart Club, now affiliated with Karting Australia, returns to the track with a Club Day on Saturday, October 5.

Racing commences at 4 pm and under lights until 9 pm.

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